Ensuring the Viability of Cultural Heritage: The Role of International Heritage Law for Pacific Island States - Island Futures: Conservation and Development Across the Asia-Pacific Region - page 37

Chapter 4
Ensuring the Viability of Cultural Heritage:
The Role of International Heritage
Law for Pacific Island States
Erika J. Techera
Introduction
The concept of 'culture' embodies all the characteristics of human societies. In that
sense it is amorphous and inherently difficult to define. Nevertheless, the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (hereinafter 'UNESCO')
has described 'culture' as “the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and
emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition
to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions
and beliefs”. 1 'Cultural heritage' is the expression of this living culture, embody-
ing its “history, values and beliefs” (Wendland 2004 ). Cultural heritage can take
many forms, including monumental built heritage, craftsmanship, artistic, linguis-
tic and musical expression, traditional knowledge and customary practices, to
name a few.
Cultural heritage is intrinsically valuable and safeguarding its diversity is “as
necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature”. 2 This value is applicable to
individuals and communities at all levels of society. Cultural heritage plays an
important part in cultural identity, contributes to communal cohesion, and can
support the fabric of society by assisting to build partnerships between the public
and private sectors, and between the state and civil society.
1 This definition appears in the Preamble to the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity, 2001 : see unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001271/127160m.pdf . It is noted there as
being in line with the conclusions of previous conferences and reports including the World
Conference on Cultural Policies, held in Mexico City in 1982; the report of the World Commission
on Culture and Development, Our Creative Diversity , 1995; and the Intergovernmental Conference
on Cultural Policies for Development, held in Stockholm in 1998: see notes to Preamble, p. 12.
2 Article 1, UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, 2001 .