Each year, World Heritage Day is joyously celebrated on April 18 to promote cultural heritage.
The primary objective of celebrating this day is to promote the cultural heritage through various activities which are undertaken by the International Council on Monuments and Sites. ICOMOS suggested in 1982 that April 18 should be observed as an International Day for Monuments and Sites.
The day is about preserving human heritage, diversity and vulnerability of the world’s built monuments and heritage sites. Also, the efforts required to protect and conserve it and to draw attention towards it.
We are all aware that the ancient and heritage buildings and monuments are an asset for any nation and for the world. Therefore, World Heritage Day is a collective effort of the communities in the world to do the needful to conserve it for the coming generations. This day maintain the cultural legacy and make people think about its susceptibility & conservation.
Post ICOMOS‘ suggestion in 1982, the proposal was also unanimously accepted by UNESCO the following year during the 22nd General Conference. According to ICOMOS, the essential aspect is to mark this day so that it becomes not only a day to celebrate a nation’s National Heritage but also a day of International Solidarity in favor of strengthening and safeguarding Heritage world-wide. There are a grand total of 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage Sites worldwide, of which 869 are cultural, 213 are natural and 39 are a mixture.
According to the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) :
1. Inter-generational transfer of knowledge: To emphasize and exchange the importance of knowledge between generations to promote the ICOMOS ethos for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage.
2. Youth Leadership: In each country, professionals will emerge and organize events that will focus on reaching the younger members of the wider public community by showcasing the creative use of social media.
This communication process across the generations of heritage practitioners generates enriching exchanges. Even to combine the knowledge of experienced practitioners with the newer members will bring a more holistic approach to ongoing initiatives.
Therefore, to celebrate World Heritage Day is an opportunity to emphasise the importance of safeguarding, conserving and preserving our heritage. Various conferences related to preserving heritage culture, lectures, training sessions, round-table discussions, poster sessions etc. will pave the importance of heritage and celebrates it on a wider scale.