INTERNATIONAL DAY

African World Heritage Day

05.05

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We celebrate African World Heritage Day
on May 5.

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WORLD HERITAGE IN AFRICA

From top to bottom: Timbuktu, Mali; Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia; Tassili n’Ajjer, Algeria; Timgrad, Algeria.

May 5 is an opportunity for people around the world to celebrate the Continent’s unique cultural and natural heritage.

Proclaimed by the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO (November 2015), African World Heritage Day (5 May) is an opportunity for people around the world, and particularly Africans, to celebrate the Continent’s unique cultural and natural heritage.

While Africa is underrepresented on the World Heritage List (African properties account for some 12% of all inscribed sites worldwide), a disproportionally high percentage (39%) of these properties are on the World Heritage List in Danger. Faced with various contemporary threats, such as climate change, uncontrolled development, poaching, civil unrest and instability, many of Africa’s wonders risk losing their outstanding universal value. It is, therefore, more urgent than ever that this irreplaceable heritage is protected and preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

UNESCO is committed to spearheading international efforts to draw on the vast potential of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage as a force for poverty reduction and social cohesion as well as a driver of sustainable development and innovation. Through this international day, UNESCO aims to increase global awareness of African heritage, with a special focus on youth, and to mobilise enhanced cooperation for its safeguarding on the local, regional and global level.

A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

“The Ngorongoro Declaration on African World Heritage as a Driver for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2016, reminds us of the urgent need to build capacity for heritage management and conservation in Africa.”

— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of African World Heritage Day

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Discover some of the African Continent’s World Heritage Sites

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How to get involved

International days are celebrations and calls to action. They are for everyone to participate in. This is how you can take part in an International Day in three simple steps.

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Why are International Days important? They provide unique opportunities to transmit UNESCO values to the world.

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International days also provide a unique opportunity to engage citizens on global issues, to mobilise political will and resources to address these problems, but also to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity as well as remember some of our darkest times as they guide us towards building a better world.

The United Nations International Days are for everyone, all around the globe. Because they are open, you can have an important role to play in them. NGOs, universities, schools, press and more will be putting together campaigns, events, and calls to action worldwide to provide further opportunities to engage, learn, and transmit the values and knowledge associated with each International Day. They serve as an important vehicle to connect the local to the international.

At their root, UN International Days contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the UN Charter and promote awareness of and action on important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. International days are at the heart of the United Nations Charter. They work to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.

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