OWH Statement at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan
OWH Statement at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan
OurWorldHeritage Foundation partnered with the Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural and Nature (FOPCHEN) to make the following statement. The spokesperson for the group was Lance Syme of FOPCHEN.
Dear Members of the Committee:
We have followed the Committee’s five-year debate on sites of memory. It is well known that memorialization initiatives risk creating further conflict. Places with unresolved dissonant values will not build the foundations of peace. To strengthen the implementation of the Convention, FOPCHEN in partnership with OurWorldHeritage proposes that the Committee’s 2023 decision be formalized in the Operational Guidelines.
We applaud the 2023 landmark decision to adopt Guiding Principles that require:
● accurate texts to avoid distortion of memories;
● proof that serious efforts have been made to ensure stakeholders;
● interpretation strategies that present the full meaning of the place;
● and a documented reconciliation process.
This excellent framework needs to be institutionalized in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. Why? Because Committee decisions that are not in the guidelines risk being forgotten as Committee membership changes. Our foundations respectfully asks you to formally include the Guiding Principles for sites of memory in your Operational Guidelines.
Last but not the least, FOPCHEN in partnership with OWH supports the Busan Declaration, in particular, the idea of the 6th C on collaboration. This is critical especially for communities.
Thank you for your attention.
