The Role of International Organisations
Paul Drury
We are all familiar with the acronyms of international organisations
like UNESCO, but perhaps less clear about their status and aims, particularly
where the conservation of our national heritage is concerned. This article
outlines the origins and roles of the relevant bodies, some current
issues, and the texts for which they are responsible. These fall into
three main categories: Conventions, produced by intergovernmental organisations,
which are legally binding on states that ratify them; Recommendations,
also produced by intergovernmental organisations, but setting out advice
and good practice; and Charters, usually produced by non-governmental
organisations (or 'NGOs') like ICOMOS, whose force, though considerable,
is moral rather than legal.
All the organisations have informative Internet sites from which more
details and copies of the relevant Conventions, Recommendations and
Charters can be obtained.
WORLD-WIDE ORGANISATIONS
UNESCO
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
- was established in 1945 and is based in Paris. Since its campaign to
rescue the Nubian monuments in the 1960s, it has worked to build international
solidarity to protect our heritage. It is most obviously associated with
the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage, under which 'World Heritage Sites' of 'universal cultural
value' are designated. UNESCO is also responsible for the (Hague) Convention
for the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of armed conflict
(1954), and for conventions concerning the illegal movement of cultural
property (including UNIDROIT). It is currently attempting to develop a
convention on the protection of underwater heritage.
ICCROM
- The International Centre for the study of the Preservation and Restoration
of Cultural Property - is an intergovernmental body set up in 1956
and located in Rome. It provides expert technical advice on how to conserve
sites on the World Heritage List, as well as training in restoration techniques.
ICCROM has also set up an international database of conservation training
courses, accessible via its website (see Website list).
ICOMOS
- The International Council on Monuments and Sites -
is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the conservation of the
world's historic monuments and sites, based in Paris. It was founded in
1965 to promote the doctrine and the techniques of conservation, following
the adoption of the Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of
Monuments and Sites - the 'Venice Charter'. Today it has National
Committees in over 90 countries, including the UK, membership being open
to those qualified in a profession in the field of conservation.
The organisation is UNESCO's principal advisor on heritage conservation,
including the evaluation of cultural properties proposed for inscription
on the World Heritage List. ICOMOS seeks to establish international
standards for the preservation, restoration, and management of the cultural
environment. Many have been promulgated as sector-specific Charters,
including those on historic gardens and landscapes (Florence, 1982),
historic towns and urban areas (Washington, 1987), the archaeological
heritage (1990) and the underwater cultural heritage (1996). The International
Training Committee (CIF) seeks to establish and promote standards in
conservation training, as well as promoting international co-operation
and exchange in this field.
EUROPEAN ORGANISATIONS
The
COUNCIL OF EUROPE, based in Strasbourg, is an inter-governmental
organisation, founded in 1949 to 'achieve a greater unity between its
Members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles
which are their common heritage, and facilitating their economic and social
progress'. Membership has grown from 10 countries in 1949 to 41 today.
Its main roles are to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule
of law throughout its member states, and enhance Europe's common cultural
heritage in all its diversity.
The decision-making body of the Council of Europe is the Committee
of [Foreign] Ministers of the member states, advised by the Parliamentary
Assembly and specialised committees. These include the Council for
Cultural Co-operation (CDCC), responsible for action under the
European Cultural Convention (1954). The CDCC is currently supported
by four specialised committees, including the Cultural Heritage Committee
(CC-PAT), as well as ad hoc working groups.
The Cultural Heritage Committee is responsible for monitoring the Convention
for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada,
1985), and the European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological
Heritage (Valletta, Malta, 1992, a revision of the original of 1969).
A draft European Landscape Convention is currently under consideration,
bringing together cultural and environmental interests in the management
of both urban and rural areas, and emphasising the importance of public
involvement. Twenty Recommendations and Resolutions on a wide range
of cultural heritage issues have been made over the past 30 years, on
subjects as diverse as heritage funding, 20th century and industrial
heritage, disaster planning, documentation, education, and movable heritage
property.
The Council of Europe was responsible for European Architectural Heritage
Year in 1975. Twenty-five years on, in September 1999, it launched a
year-long campaign Europe: A Common Heritage. The aim is to develop
greater awareness of the historic environment, the values it conveys,
and its potential to contribute to social cohesion, democratic citizenship
and sustainable development. There is an ongoing range of educational
and participatory programmes. The most significant is European Heritage
Days: in 1998, there were more than 19 million visits to historic buildings
and sites, most not normally accessible to the public, across 41 countries.
A comparative database of heritage legislation and policy in all European
countries, European-Heritage.net, is being developed.
The
EUROPEAN UNION (EU), based in Brussels, originated in the Treaty
of Rome (1957); the UK joined in 1973 and membership now stands at 15
countries. Formal EU 'competence' in cultural matters came only with
the Maastricht Treaty of 1993 which introduced as a new objective
of EU action '[to make] a contribution to
the flowering of the
cultures of the Member States'. It may offer 'aid to promote culture
and heritage conservation', and should seek to '[bring] the common cultural
heritage to the fore'. Support for 'pilot projects' in architectural
conservation, as well as training and cultural events, has so far been
modest, most recently under the Raphael programme. However, from
January 2000 this has been replaced by Culture 2000, a single
'framework programme' covering the whole spectrum of cultural co-operation.
Despite an apparent emphasis in initial information on contemporary
creative arts, the programme certainly includes the cultural heritage.
It is well worth keeping abreast of current themes and calls for proposals.
To encourage and assist successful applications to EU cultural programmes,
including Culture 2000, there is an official UK Cultural Contact
Point, Euclid International (www.euclid.co.uk (see Useful Contacts)),
but this may change in 2000.
Other European Union programmes, concerned primarily with, for example,
education and training, technology and regional development, can provide
support for the conservation of the built heritage. The 5th RTD (Research,
Technology development and Demonstration) framework programme includes
the particularly significant theme The City of Tomorrow and Cultural
Heritage. A specific issue is best practice in the sustainable
protection, conservation and management of the built heritage and
its integration in the modern urban context. The ERDF (European
Regional Development Fund) is aimed at reducing inequalities between
regions or social groups, and can be a source of finance for regeneration
projects involving historic buildings in eligible areas.
EUROPA
NOSTRA, based in The Hague, was founded in 1963. It is an umbrella
organisation consisting of more than 200 NGOs involved in the heritage
field, 100 local and regional authorities and about 1,000 individual
members from 35 European countries. In 1991 it merged with the International
Castles Institute. The main aims of Europa Nostra are the protection
and enhancement of the European architectural and natural heritage,
as well as the encouragement of high architectural standards in sensitive
areas.
Europa Nostra runs an annual Award Scheme, presenting medals and diplomas
to up to 40 projects which make a distinguished contribution to the
conservation and enhancement of Europe's architectural and natural
heritage. Eligible projects are:
the restoration of buildings
the adaptation of old buildings to new uses, preserving their
original character
the restoration and conservation of parks, gardens and wider
cultural landscapes
sympathetic new construction in conservation areas and areas
of outstanding natural beauty.
WEBSITES | |
UNESCO | www.unesco.org |
ICCROM | www.iccrom.org |
ICOMOS | www.international.icomos.org |
Council of Europe | www.coe.int |
for cultural heritage |
www.coe.culture.int |
www.coe.fr.patrimonium | |
for the Campaign |
www.European-Heritage.net |
European Union | www.europa.eu.int |
|
www.euclid.co.uk |
Europa Nostra |