UNESCO

The World Heritage Convention was adopted in 1972 by the General Conference of UNESCO. It promotes an international perspective on cultural heritage by inviting member states to submit an inventory of properties forming its national cultural and natural heritage to be included in a list of World Heritage sites. The convention encourages national efforts at protecting cultural and natural heritage and promotes international recognition and cooperation in safeguarding the heritage of the world. (Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention were issued in 1988. They outline the criteria to be met by sites on the World Heritage List.)