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Browse our Legal Framework of #Culture
UNESCO’s Culture Legal Framework in the UK is built around 🛠 Standard-Setting Instruments 🧠 Organs & Programmes and 🏛 Institutes & Centres
We implement UNESCO’s culture programme through four pillars: the monitoring of legal instruments the UK has ratified, our Policy Advice to Government, the advice of UK experts on culture, and through the UK’s cultural UNESCO designations such as its World Heritage Sites, Creative Cities and the Memory of the World Register.

#Quote
‘Culture has a fundamental role to play in rising to the challenges of our century. In the face of global fractures, and the paralysis of some institutional platforms, it is a common language that breaks down barriers’
UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, at Culture Ministers Forum, November 2019
Culture
UNESCO establishes an international normative framework through its Conventions, Recommendations and other agreements
🛠 Standard-Setting Instruments
STANDARD SETTING INSTRUMENTS
UNESCO establishes international frameworks for culture through 🖋 Conventions and other agreements, such as 📃 Recommendations and 🧰 Declarations.
At the heart of UNESCO’s legal framework in the sphere of Culture lies a suite of Cultural Conventions and Recommendations. Together they establish a robust international framework for protecting culture and promoting participation and therefore laying the foundation for sustainable development. This legal framework is complemented by programmatic initiatives including the UNESCO Creative Cities network, in which UK Cities play an active part.
ALL STANDARD SETTING INSTRUMENTS
Discover the full repertoire of UNESCO frameworks, from our standard setting instruments to our institutes and centres.

🖋 Conventions
WHAT ARE CONVENTIONS?
The role of culture in addressing sustainable development challenges is now established. Culture is at the heart of supporting inclusive social development, fostering intercultural dialogue for the rapprochment of culture.
Since 1946, the UK National Commission for UNESCO has been ensuring the UK’s leading specialists, intellectuals and academics are contributing to and shaping UNESCO’s culture mandate. We also advise the UK and devolved governments on policy relating to UNESCO’s culture activities. This advice ensures the UK Governments are adhering to the text of these legal instruments by fulfilling their obligations and promoting their aims and intentions within the UK.
HOW CONVENTIONS ARE ADOPTED
🚦 UNESCO Adopts the Convention
🖊 Signed by the UK
🗳 Passed as UK law
🗝 Ratified
CONVENTIONS CAN BE…
🗝 Ratified
🖊 Signed by the UK (but not yet ratified)
🔴 Not Signed or Ratified
QUICKVIEW
🗝 Ratified #Culture Conventions
🔴 Not Signed or Ratified
Discover
The UK National Commission has produced and published several long form policy briefs that cover many aspects of the field of Culture. These inform UK Government about the international opportunities in UNESCO’s programmatic sphere, opportunities and guidance on the implementation of more of UNESCO’s suite of Culture conventions, improving on UK obligations under existing legal frameworks and more.

Sirkka-Liisa Kontinnen’s Photography and Amber Films
JUNE 2020
🗂️ Policy Documents
This case study describes how, in her own words, UNESCO status has helped raise the profile of Kontinnen’s work as a photographer and ensures that these important sources continue to be preserved and celebrated.

Cultural Heritage Innovation
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The report, Cultural Heritage Innovation: Opportunities for International Development, finds that the UK cultural heritage sector plays a critical role in the UK’s world-leading research and innovation practices, and is significantly contributing to the UK Government’s international development objectives.

Kew Gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
This case study details how UNESCO has played a key role in enhancing Kew’s capability to create new crucial knowledge and how the status has been especially helpful in attracting financial resources.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.
The UK National Commission has produced and published several long form policy briefs that cover many aspects of the field of Culture. These inform UK Government about the international opportunities in UNESCO’s programmatic sphere, opportunities and guidance on the implementation of more of UNESCO’s suite of Culture conventions, improving on UK obligations under existing legal frameworks and more.

Sirkka-Liisa Kontinnen’s Photography and Amber Films
JUNE 2020
🗂️ Policy Documents
This case study describes how, in her own words, UNESCO status has helped raise the profile of Kontinnen’s work as a photographer and ensures that these important sources continue to be preserved and celebrated.

Cultural Heritage Innovation
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The report, Cultural Heritage Innovation: Opportunities for International Development, finds that the UK cultural heritage sector plays a critical role in the UK’s world-leading research and innovation practices, and is significantly contributing to the UK Government’s international development objectives.

Kew Gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
This case study details how UNESCO has played a key role in enhancing Kew’s capability to create new crucial knowledge and how the status has been especially helpful in attracting financial resources.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.
The UK National Commission has produced and published several long form policy briefs that cover many aspects of the field of Culture. These inform UK Government about the international opportunities in UNESCO’s programmatic sphere, opportunities and guidance on the implementation of more of UNESCO’s suite of Culture conventions, improving on UK obligations under existing legal frameworks and more.

Sirkka-Liisa Kontinnen’s Photography and Amber Films
JUNE 2020
🗂️ Policy Documents
This case study describes how, in her own words, UNESCO status has helped raise the profile of Kontinnen’s work as a photographer and ensures that these important sources continue to be preserved and celebrated.

Cultural Heritage Innovation
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The report, Cultural Heritage Innovation: Opportunities for International Development, finds that the UK cultural heritage sector plays a critical role in the UK’s world-leading research and innovation practices, and is significantly contributing to the UK Government’s international development objectives.

Kew Gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
This case study details how UNESCO has played a key role in enhancing Kew’s capability to create new crucial knowledge and how the status has been especially helpful in attracting financial resources.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival at Edinburgh Creative City of Literature
JULY 2019
🗂️ Policy Documents
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival shows that storytelling is a possible means of advancing sustainable development and is a remarkable example of how culture can lead in this area.

📃 Recommendations / 🧰 Declarations
RECOMMENDATIONS & DECLARATIONS
UNESCO establishes international frameworks for culture through Conventions and other agreements.
At the heart of UNESCO’s legal framework in the sphere of Culture lies a suite of Cultural Conventions and Recommendations. Together they establish a robust international framework for protecting culture and promoting participation and therefore laying the foundation for sustainable development. This legal framework is complemented by programmatic initiatives including the UNESCO Creative Cities network, in which UK Cities play an active part.
These standard setting instruments include the following:
At the heart of UNESCO’s legal framework in the sphere of Culture lies a suite of Cultural Conventions and Recommendations. Together they establish a robust international framework for protecting culture and promoting participation and therefore laying the foundation for sustainable development. This legal framework is complemented by programmatic initiatives including the UNESCO Creative Cities network, in which UK Cities play an active part.
Discover the full repertoire of UNESCO frameworks, from our standard setting instruments to our institutes and centres.
Discover the full repertoire of UNESCO frameworks, from our standard setting instruments to our institutes and centres.
Discover
The UK National Commission has produced and published several long form policy briefs that cover many aspects of the field of Culture. These inform UK Government about the international opportunities in UNESCO’s programmatic sphere, opportunities and guidance on the implementation of more of UNESCO’s suite of Culture conventions, improving on UK obligations under existing legal frameworks and more.
17 October 2003
UNESCO Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage
The UK National Commission has produced and published several long form policy briefs that cover many aspects of the field of Culture. These inform UK Government about the international opportunities in UNESCO’s programmatic sphere, opportunities and guidance on the implementation of more of UNESCO’s suite of Culture conventions, improving on UK obligations under existing legal frameworks and more.
17 October 2003
UNESCO Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage

Each and every accredited expert within our network is tasked with a specific committee or programme within UNESCO’s framework
🧠 #Organs & Programmes
CULTURAL EXPERTS
We work with a network of experts across the UK who work to support UNESCO’s global mission to build peace in the minds of men and women.
Our Expert Network is a pro-bono network of specialists working in the fields of education, culture, the natural and social sciences and communication and information from across the UK. The Network helps to advise the UK and Devolved Governments on policy relating to UNESCO’s educational conventions, recommendations and declarations. This advice ensures that the Government is adhering to the text of these legal instruments by fulfilling its obligations and promoting their aims and intentions within the UK. The Network enables us to engage with the intellectual and scientific commnities of the UK in producing policy advice, and analysing UNESCO’s programmes and global trends in education, science, culture, and communication and information.
KEY CULTURAL EXPERTS

🧞♀️ Helen Maclagan, OBE, is our vice chair and non executive director in charge of the #CulturalPortfolio
Our most extensive group of experts, UK National Commission for UNESCO Advisors, form the bedrock of much of our work. Advisors review applications for UNESCO prizes or prospective UNESCO designations (such as UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks).
KEY CULTURAL ADVISORS

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🧠 #Organ&Programme
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🖋 #RatifiedConvention
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🧰 #Declaration
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
#Culture
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.
FROM OUR CULTURAL ADVISORS
The relevant UK government department approves Accredited Experts. They have an official role, representing the UK in UNESCO Committees, Commissions and Programmes. They also work with us and the UK Permanent Delegation to UNESCO based with the Department for International Development in London and Paris, to advise the UK and/or devolved governments on UNESCO related matters.
KEY CULTURAL ACCREDITED EXPERTS

David Wilson
ADVISOR – SINCE 2009
🎓 Accredited Expert
David is an international ambassador for the creative cities programme, regularly speaking and presents at film, business and community events on culture and sustainable development, in addition to writing about creativity, film and sustainable development.

Sandeep Mahal
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🎓 Accredited Expert
Passionate about equality, inclusion and empowering young people to build a better world with words, Sandeep is responsible for providing creative and strategic leadership and effective management of Nottingham’s UNESCO designation and charitable company.
FROM OUR CULTURAL ACCREDITED EXPERTS
The UNESCO Chair/UNITWIN programme seeks to foster international cooperation and knowledge sharing between higher education institutions. UNESCO Chairs are based within an Institute for Higher Education, and their work identifies with a current UNESCO priority.
KEY CULTURAL CHAIRS

Professor Robin Conningham
CHAIR – SINCE 2014
🪑 UNESCO Chair
Durham’s Chair addresses the social, ethical and economic impacts facing heritage managers by co-designing solutions and training programmes for its protection and inclusive promotion, particularly at living sites.
FROM OUR CULTURAL CHAIRS
Our experts represent the UK on a number of committees which implement and oversee UNESCO’s work on culture.
KEY CULTURAL COMMITTEES

Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP)
NOV 1978
🏛 #Committee
Established in 1978, the committee deals with the restitution or return of cultural property, which has been lost as a result of foreign or colonial occupation or through illicit trafficking. It facilitates bilateral negotiations between the countries concerned and encourages them to conclude agreements.

World Heritage Committee
NOV 1972
🏛 #Committee
The World Heritage Committee oversees the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List, evaluates reports and asks Member States to take action when properties are not being properly managed.
FROM OUR CULTURAL COMMITTEES

Each and every accredited expert within our network is tasked with a specific committee or programme within UNESCO’s framework
🏛 #Centres&Institutes
CULTURAL SITES, ACTIONS & INITIATIVES
The UK’s portfolio of UNESCO cultural sites and activities are some of the most visible of UNESCO’s programmes, and work to promote our culture and preserve it for generations to come.
We see tangible links to our living past within each day, through our places of worship, museums and architecture. Documents and images recollect and recreate the experiences of past generations linking the communities of the present to those that have gone before.
People also experience culture constantly through the music that they listen to, the language they speak, the food that they eat, oral traditions that are passed down through generations and the festivities they take part in with their neighbours and their families. This heritage creates continuity and cohesion for those disrupted by change, economic instability and can be carried across great distances.
The four nations of the UK and its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have a vibrant network of UNESCO culture projects that are working with like-minded people around the world to foster and create peace.
LATEST CULTURAL NEWS

Discover our sites of #culture, explore our ⛩️ World Heritage Sites, our 🎬 Creative Cities, and the 📜 Memory of the World Archive
The UK’s cultural and natural heritage is represented by 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which serve as reminders of our past from every era from the Neolithic to the 1950s. They span the breadth of all four constituent nations of the United Kingdom and across its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. The UK is also host to 11 UNESCO Creative Cities which show us the power of the UK’s creativity as a force for economic and sustainable development.
OUR CULTURAL SITES

Neolithic Orkney
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
⛩️ World Heritage Site
The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Orkney is home to some of the most important Neolithic monuments in Northern Europe which testify to the 4000 year old ceremonial, funerary and domestic components of cultural traditions.

Creative City of Design Dundee
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🎬 #CreativeCity
In Dundee, culture and innovation lie at the centre – quite literally. Having grappled with serious post-industrial challenges such as depopulation and job loss, the city has been embracing creativity to boost its economy and enhance public well-being.
NEWS FROM OUR CULTURAL SITES
The UK National Commission collaborates on, and endorses projects that enhance, promote and preserve the culture in the UK, both past and present.
NEWS FROM OUR CULTURAL PROJECTS
Since it was established, the UK National Commission for UNESCO has worked in partnership with likeminded organisations and colleagues to help promote and enhance visibility of our Culture, as well as working together to tackle challenges.
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
UNESCO Prizes in culture are prestigious awards addressing global issues and themes, which are conferred on individuals or organisations by the Director-General for UNESCO upon recommendation by an independent and international jury. They each carry a high symbolic value, and are awarded with a substantial monetary award.
OUR CULTURAL PRIZES

UNESCO World Book Capital
PRIZE – SINCE 2001
🏆 #Prize
Begun in 2001, the UNESCO World Book Capital is designed to promote books, reading and a love of literature. One city is chosen per year to be the UNESCO World Book Capital. The designation period runs for 12-months from 23 April, World Book and Copyright Day.

UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture
PRIZE – SINCE 1989
🏆 #Prize
The UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture rewards two laureates each year. To be successful, the individuals, groups or institutions must have contributed significantly towards the development, dissemination, and the promotion of Arab culture in the world.
BLOGS FROM OUR CULTURAL PRIZES
Since 1946, the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s role is to ensure the UK’s leading specialists, intellectuals and academics are contributing and shaping UNESCO’s science manadate. We also advise the UK and Devolved Government on policy relating to UNESCO’s scientific activities. This advice ensures the UK Government is adhering to the text of these legal instruments by fulfilling its obligations and promoting their aims and intentions within the UK.
LATEST CULTURAL INITIATIVES

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🧠 #Organ&Programme
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🖋 #RatifiedConvention
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🧰 #Declaration
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
#Culture
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.
NEWS FROM OUR CULTURAL INITIATIVES
Since 1946, the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s role is to ensure the UK’s leading specialists, intellectuals and academics are contributing and shaping UNESCO’s science manadate. We also advise the UK and Devolved Government on policy relating to UNESCO’s scientific activities. This advice ensures the UK Government is adhering to the text of these legal instruments by fulfilling its obligations and promoting their aims and intentions within the UK.
LATEST CULTURAL INITIATIVES

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🧠 #Organ&Programme
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🖋 #RatifiedConvention
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
🧰 #Declaration
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.

Professor Ivor Gaber
ADVISOR – SINCE 2019
#Culture
We work closely with experts and professionals in the fields of education, science, culture and communication and information from across the United Kingdom. From our Non-Executive Directors who advise the UK Government.
NEWS FROM OUR CULTURAL INITIATIVES
Take #Culture Further
‘Culture has a fundamental role to play in rising to the challenges of our century. In the face of global fractures, and the paralysis of some institutional platforms, it is a common language that breaks down barriers’
UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, at Culture Ministers Forum, November 2019
Frameworks
Browse our world of #Culture
click on the links above
DISCOVER
Discover our Communication & Information Programmes
#Communication #Information