Role of UNESCO & world heritage convention in preserving monuments in Syria and Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper discusses about the roles and responsibility of UNESCO on protecting and preserving the world heritage sites across the world. The paper looks into the detail of what 1s preservation as per UNESCO and how that ideology is embedded into the World Heritage Convention. The paper investigates how UNESCO implement the frameworks and guideline defined by the convention document, how the list of heritage sites is curated & how they implement the plan the preservation of these heritage. Two case study of Syria and Afghanistan are considered to better understand what the impact of UNESCO on preserving world heritage sites in countries which has witnessed dynamic political and societal change over the years. UNESCO has recognized 6 sites in Syria and 2 sites in Afghanistan as World Heritage Sites. These sites have undergone destruction due to war, theft, vandalism, natural decay, and sociocultural harm. The paper look into their history, cultural importance, how they were included into the world heritage sites list and what action plan did UNESCO implemented for their preservation. With current world situation making it difficult for UNESCO to preserve the heritage sitesat both the nations, the paper puts forward some necessary steps which UNESCO should take to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of these countries after evaluating what has happened there already.