Statement from the Participants
We, participants at the international workshop ‘Our common dignity: Towards Rights-Based World Heritage Management’ held in Oslo, Norway, on 9-11 March 2011, co-organized by ICOMOS Norway, the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), with support from Norway’s Ministry of Environment,
Commend the organizers of the Workshop for taking the initiative to convene the meeting, and thank the Ministry of Environment of Norway for its support to the event;
Appreciate that the objective of the Workshop was to raise awareness of the human rights dimensions within World Heritage in a framework of sustainable development;
Recall that the UNESCO Constitution states that “The purpose of the Organization is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations” (Article 1.1);
Recall the Declaration on Cultural Heritage and Human Rights of the ICOMOS Advisory Committee in Stockholm in 1998 and having learned as well of valuable efforts from organizations such as IUCN to develop concepts, approaches and tools that support conservation paradigms that are inclusive of human rights, livelihood security, justice and equity.
Recognise the positive contributions World Heritage makes to Human Rights but note, however, that cases exist where the rights and interests of people associated with World Heritage sites have been negatively impacted, and that such impacts contradict national and international commitments on human rights, poverty reduction, equity and sustainable development;
Express concern that the efforts of the World Heritage Convention to conserve the most precious creations of humankind and outstanding natural places are ethically compatible with the rights of people to live in dignity as individuals and communities.
1. We recommend that internationally proclaimed human rights should be upheld, respected and included in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, and in particular through education and training initiatives, consistent with the commitment of States Parties to internationally proclaimed human rights;
2. We invite the President of ICOMOS to establish a working group with IUCN and ICCROM to develop and enhance good practice including in relation to World heritage evaluation and monitoring. We recommend that this working group develops appropriate guidance and tools to support States Parties to adequately integrate human rights considerations in their actions to implement the World Heritage Convention. We recommend that this working group collaborate with interested States Parties and Human Rights Organizations to further strengthen an open, informed and inclusive process;
3. We recommend that the organizers of this workshop present its results at the World Heritage Convention Anniversary events in 2012, contributing to its theme “World Heritage and Sustainable Development: the Role of Local Communities in the Management of World Heritage”, and to coordinate with the Advisory Bodies to also bring to such events relevant outputs of any further work undertaken by them;
4. We invite States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to bring the outcome and report of the workshop to the attention of UNESCO and the World Heritage Centre for further discussion and follow-up in relevant fora, highlighting therein the importance of integrating human rights considerations in the implementation of the Convention, so that the objectives of conserving WH sites go hand in hand with the national and international efforts to secure human rights.
Oslo, 11 March 2011
ICOMOS Norway
Norwegian Institute for Human Rights, University of Oslo
Norwegian Helsinki Committee