Nearly half a century ago, the World Heritage Convention was conceived as a mechanism for international cooperation to safeguard sites of universal significance and it has since become an all-inclusive instrument of international heritage law, to bring diverse cultures and their heritage together. Today, with 190 States Parties, the benefits of this vision are increasingly perceived and shared beyond the borders of the World Heritage sites, underscoring the importance of the concept of outstanding universal value as a vector of sustainable development, particularly local community development. The holistic conservation ethic is succinctly epitomized in the overall theme of the 40th anniversary of the Convention, celebrated in 2012 as World Heritage and Sustainable Development – the Role of Local Communities. Shared understanding of outstanding universal value among culturally and linguistically diverse communities around the world has become a cultural right, true to the spirit of the Convention that is at once shared by all stakeholders at local, regional, national and global levels. Most significantly, it has become a crucial contributor to sustainable development.

This spirit and commitment was emphasized by the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, launching the 40th anniversary celebrations, when she called for a year of renewal for World Heritage. ‘Heritage stands at the crossroads of climate change, social transformations and processes of reconciliation between peoples. Heritage carries high stakes – for the identity and belonging of peoples, for the sustainable economic and social development of communities.’