World Heritage Day 2023: Know Its History, Significance

New Delhi: World Heritage Day, also known as International Day for Monuments and Sites is observed every year on April 18th to raise awareness about the importance of protecting cultural heritage and to celebrate the diversity of the world’s heritage.

World Heritage Day: History

Before the late 19th century, the protection of historic buildings was solely a national concern, and laws related to this matter in Europe were established during this time. Although various associations existed in each country, they were limited to national boundaries.

Cultural internationalism, as we know it today, emerged after the First World War, with the establishment of the League of Nations, and particularly after the Second World War, with the creation of the United Nations and UNESCO.

The Athens Conference, which was held in 1931 and organized by the International Museums Office, along with the Athens Charter, drafted by Le Corbusier during the fourth Assembly of the International Congresses on Modern Architecture in 1933, and later published anonymously in Paris in 1941, are major stepping stones in the development of ideas.

ICOMOS marks the “International Day for Monuments and Sites” annually on April 18, which was officially recognized by the 22nd UNESCO General Conference in 1983.

World Heritage Day: Significance

The aim of this day is to increase awareness of the value of cultural assets, the vulnerability of sites and monuments, and the measures necessary to protect and conserve them. The event highlights culture’s significance while acknowledging the numerous obstacles to achieving this goal. It encourages us to honour and appreciate the diverse cultural expressions around the world. It also seeks to promote the preservation of these cultural expressions.

Finally, World Heritage Day is observed to stay in touch with our cultural heritage and its traditions which have always reflected and shaped values, beliefs, and aspirations, and as such, define a people’s identity. Preserving our cultural history is crucial in maintaining our cultural identity as a people.