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UNESCO World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024

India hosted the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting for the first time, held from July 21-31, 2024, in New Delhi. The 2024 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum, organized by the Ministry of Culture.

Overview of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee Meeting

  • India hosts the UNESCO World Heritage Cmmittee meeting for the first time
  • Scheduled fromJuly 21-31, 2024, in New Delhi
  • 46th session of the World Heritage Committee
  • Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme
  • Ministry of Culture organizing the 2024 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum

Theme:

  • "World Heritage in the 21st Century: Building Capacities and Exploring Opportunities for Youth"

World Heritage Young Professionals Forum Details

  • Dates: July 14-23, 2024
  • Venue: Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi
  • Organizer: Archaeological Survey of India (under Ministry of Culture)
  • Participants: 50 young professionals (20 from India, 30 from other countries)
  • Inauguration: July 15, 2024, by Govind Mohan, Secretary, Ministry of Culture

Other key attendees:

    • Yadubir Singh Rawat, Director General, ASI
    • Vishal Sharma, Ambassador to UNESCO
    • Alok Tripathi, ADG (Archaeology), ASI
    • Janhwij Sharma, ADG, ASI
    • Ines Yousfi, Project Officer from UNESCO

Forum Objectives and Activities

  • Enhance expertise, skills, and capacities of young professionals in heritage protection
  • Discuss global concepts of World Heritage and Sustainable Development
  • Familiarize participants with Indian heritage and its management

Activities include:

    • Presentations
    • Roundtable discussions
    • Site visits to World Heritage properties:
      • Qutb Minar complex, Red Fort, and Humayun's Tomb in Delhi
      • Taj Mahal in Agra
  • Concluding event: Presentation of 'Declaration' to the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee on July 22, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Key Focus Areas and Sub-themes

  • Climate change and its impact on World Heritage sites
  • Sustainable development in heritage management
  • Integration of scientific and human-centric approaches
  • Use of latest technological innovations in heritage preservation
  • Managerial practices and participative approaches with community involvement

Sub-themes include:

    • Understanding achievements and challenges of the World Heritage Convention
    • Integrating innovative technologies for World Heritage promotion
    • Leveraging World Heritage conservation as a participative approach with communities
    • Strengthening sustainable tourism and development through young entrepreneurship

About UNESCO

  • UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation)
  • On November 16, 1945, UNESCO was established in London.
  • Headquarter: Paris, France
  • UNESCO is an official United Nations agency.
  • Its goals include bringing cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures to the forefront of education and establishing global peace.
  • Currently, there are 42 UNECO World Heritage Sites in India.

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