World Heritage Youth Forum Declaration (2016)

As part of the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee and in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO and the Istanbul Site Management Directorate are organizing the World Heritage Youth Forum 2016: “At the Crossroads of Multi-Layered Heritage” from 29 June to 12 July 2016. (Simulation of the World Heritage Committe session done by the young representatives at the Istanbul Archeology Museum Library)

Preface: The World Heritage Youth Forum Declaration (2016)was adopted by the UNESCO World Heritage Youth Forum 2016 “At the Crossroads of Multi-layered Heritage”, Istanbul, Turkey, 29 June -12 July, 2016.

As part of the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee and in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO and the Istanbul Site Management Directorate are organizing the World Heritage Youth Forum 2016: “At the Crossroads of Multi-Layered Heritage” from 29 June to 12 July 2016.

World Heritage Youth Forum 2016: “At the Crossroads of Multi-Layered Heritage”, from 29 June to 12 July 2016 in Istanbul Turkey. Young representatives, aged from 22 to 28, from 35 countries, had the opportunity to exchange ideas, contribute to the discussions and immerse themselves in topics within the scope of multi-layered heritage.

The Forum seeks to deepen youth knowledge and understanding the importance of:

  • the implementation of the World Heritage Convention,
  • the working methods of the World Heritage Committee,
  • the challenges and opportunities of the protection of multi-layered World Heritage sites.

Scheduled activities included: visits to World Heritage sites, including Bursa and Cumalıkızık, with the international heritage experts; workshops on different aspects emerging from the multi-layered sites; practical hands-on activities with timber and stone work for the protection and maintenance of the World Heritage site in Istanbul; experts and young representatives’ presentations; participation in discussions on the state of conservation of properties and practicing the Youth Model simulation.

The young representatives prepared the final document of the Forum to be presented during the Opening Ceremony of the 40th World Heritage Committee Session. They will also participate in the first plenary day of the World Heritage Committee to observe how the Committee works.

In order to provide an occasion for the young representatives to exchange ideas with the delegates we ensure the participation of the young representatives on the first plenary day, 11 July 2016.

One challenge

How can we rethink heritage? How can the conservation, promotion and transmission of heritage be adapted to the challenges of the future? Urbanisation, climate change, global inequality, big data – much work lies before us. The most important actor in this debate is our global youth, the ones who will drive the change that is only starting now.

This is why the UNESCO World Heritage Centre organizes not only the annual Session of the World Heritage Committee, but also a World Heritage Youth Forum, which is an integral part of the event. The 28 participants, united by a conviction that young voices matter in shaping a better future for our heritage, presented the results of their work in the form of a Declaration at the Opening Ceremony of the 40th Session of the formal World Heritage Committee. In their declaration, they committed themselves to leading the way for the change we need by mobilizing youth all over the world and by transmitting their expertise to future generations.

Everybody should be able to appreciate heritage in the modern era. But we have to learn how to manage heritage in a new way. This is why the participants assisted in the first plenary day, 11 July 2016, which provided an occasion for the young representatives to exchange fresh ideas with the delegates, an occasion for the whole heritage community to come together. A short video (5 minutes) showing how the young delegates immersed themselves in a variety of activities linked to their theme “At the Crossroads of Multi-Layered Heritage” was also presented.

They included visits to World Heritage sites, including Bursa and Cumalıkızık, guided by international heritage experts; workshops on different challenges emerging from multi-layered heritage management; practical hands-on activities with timber and stone for the protection and maintenance of the World Heritage site in Istanbul; experts’ and young representatives’ presentations; and discussions on the state of conservation of properties within the framework of a Youth Model simulation.

The World Heritage Centre would like to congratulate all participants on their excellent work. Now it is time for their discussions to inform our discussions.

All World Heritage Youth Forum

Year Title Place Region
1995 First World Heritage Youth Forum Bergen, Norway Europe
1996 World Heritage Forum on Young People’s Participation in World Heritage Preservation and Promotion (25-30 May 1996) Dubrovnik, Croatia Europe
1996 First African World Heritage Youth Forum (18-24 September 1996) Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Africa
1997 Asia-Pacific World Heritage Youth Forum (15-21 September 1997) Beijing, China Asia
1998 Second International World Heritage Youth Forum (22-29 November 1998) Osaka, Japan Asia
1999 World Heritage Youth Forum and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade (23-27 August 1999) Dakar-Gorée, Sénégal Africa
1999 First Arab Youth Forum on World Heritage (22-28 November 1999) Ifrane, Morocco Arab states
2000 First Pacific World Heritage Youth Forum (23-28 November 2000) Cairns, Australia Asia
2001 World Heritage Youth Forum for Latin America on Sustainable Tourism (26 February – 1 March 2001) Lima, Peru Latin America
2001 International World Heritage Youth Forum (3-8 September 2001) Karlskrona, Sweden Europe
2002 Sub-regional Youth Forum on World Heritage, First Central European Meeting (24-29 June 2002) Bratislava, Slovakia Europe
2002 World Heritage Youth Forum (24-29 August 2002) Velikiy Novgorod, Russian Federation Europe
2002 Sub-regional Youth Forum on World Heritage (26-28 October 2002) Oman Arab states
2003 Heritage and Youth Forum – 7th OWHC Symposium (24-26 September 2003) Rhodes, Greece Europe
2005 World Heritage Education Youth Forum – Newcastle ( 6-11 April 2005) Newcastle, United Kingdom Europe
2005 World Heritage Education Youth Forum: WHYH Visual Arts Workshop (12-14 July 2005) Durban, South Africa Africa
2006 Workshop on Cultural Heritage for Young People in the Baltic States – 30th World Heritage Committee session (3-8 July 2006) Vilinius, Lithuania Europe
2007 Asia Pacific World Heritage Youth Forum Christchurch, New Zealand – 31st World Heritage Committee session, 2007 (19-24 June 2007) Christchurch, New Zealand Asia
2008 World Heritage International Youth Forum Youth Component, 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee, 2008 (21 June – 10 July 2008) Québec, Canada Europe
2009 First Ibero-American World Heritage Youth Forum, Seville, Spain 2009, in conjunction with the 33rd session of the World Heritage Committee (June-July 2009) Seville, Spain Europe
2010 2nd World Heritage Ibero-American Youth Forum (20-30 June 2010) Aranjuez, Spain Europe
2010 World Heritage Youth Forum – Brasilia Brazil 2010 in conjunction with the 34th World Heritage Committee meeting (16-25 July 2010) Brasilia, Brazil Latin America
2010 International Youth Forum GO4BioDiv Our Treasures at Risk, World Heritage Sites in Times of Climate Change (16-29 October 2010) Mt Fuji/Nagoya, Japan Asia
2011 First South East European (SEE) World Heritage Youth Forum: Networking for a Better Common Future (21-26 May 2011) Porec, Croatia/ Ljubljana, Slovenia Europe
2011 3rd Ibero American World Heritage Youth Forum in conjunction with the 35th World Heritage Committee meeting (16-25 June 2011) Santander, Spain Europe
2012 International Youth Forum: Water and the World Heritage Youth Event (in conjunction with the 36th World Heritage Committee Meeting (St Petersburg)) (30 May – 20 June 2012) Krasnodar, Russian Federation Europe
2012 International Youth Model of the World Heritage Committee – in conjunction with the 36th World Heritage Committee meeting (St Petersburg) (1-9 July 2012) Olyonok, Kazan, Republic of Tartastan, Russian Federation Europe
2012 4th International Youth Forum – Future of the Convention with young people (10-20 June 2012) Alcala de Henares, Spain Europe
2012 1st Asia-Pacific World Heritage Regional Forum for Site Managers and Youth NGOs: Linking Networks (26-31 August 2012) Seoul, Republic of Korea Asia
2012 International Youth Forum Go4BioDiv at Sundarbans National Park (6-15 October 2012) Hyderabad, India Asia
2012 Youth Forum – Closing celebration of World Heritage Convention’s 40th anniversary (6-8 November 2012) Kyoto, Japan Asia
2013 2nd South East Europe World Heritage Youth Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development (6-11 April 2013) Gamzigrad – Romuliana, Palace of Galerius World Heritage Site, Zaječar, Serbia Europe
2013 World Heritage Youth Forum, 37th Session of World Heritage Committee (8-17 June 2013) Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia Asia
2013 5th World Heritage Youth Forum in Spain (9-19 June 2013) Alcala de Henares, Spain Europe
2014 World Heritage Youth Forum in Qatar Doha, Qatar Arab States
2015 World Heritage Youth Forum in Germany Bonn, Germany Europe
2015 1st World Hertiage Youth Forum in Asia Siem Reap, Cambodia Asia
2016 World Heritage Youth Forum 2016 in Turkey Istanbul , Turkey Europe

Category

Declaration

Date

29 June -12 July, 2016.

Promulgation

The UNESCO World Heritage Youth Forum 2016 “At the Crossroads of Multi-layered Heritage”, Istanbul, Turkey, 29 June -12 July, 2016.

Descriptions

  • The Declaration recalls that the links between tangible and intangible heritage should be strengthened to contribute to a better understanding of heritage. and the declaration appeals to the World Heritage Committee to establish a stronger inter-disciplinary bond between the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003).
  • The Declaration emphasizes the significance of raising awareness concerning the multi-layered aspect of heritage sites as a concrete proof of the historical appreciation of civilizations influencing subsequent periods that continuously gives inspiration to a universal cultural evolution, of which Istanbul is a significant example.
  • The Declaration strongly recommends participation of the youth in the decision-making process for heritage conservation and management in their respective States Parties, to allow them to develop their skills and acquire knowledge through collaboration with heritage experts.
  • The Declaration further recommends that all subsequent World Heritage Youth Forum events must include visits to heritage sites related to the theme and discussions about its challenges and potentials in the corresponding Youth Model of the World Heritage Committee.

  Source

 http://whc.unesco.org/document/143297

  Download

 http://orcp.hustoj.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/activity-886-1-1.pdf

 References

Intellectual Property

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About Sunney 116 Articles
I am currently a Professor of Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China.

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