Global Heritage Management: Institutional Frameworks and Levels
Global Heritage Management Framework
Institutions and public and private organizations involved in heritage management around the world form a complex network, developed extensively in recent decades with the contribution of national and international law. The institutional framework is structured across different levels: international, supranational, national, regional, and local.
Categories of Organizations
The various organizations, agencies, and institutions, both public and private, are arranged under three main categories:
- Governmental and Intergovernmental Institutions
- Professional Organizations
- Private Organizations and Institutions
International Level
Since the end of World War II, countries reacted positively to joining efforts to protect this heritage and ensure its future.
UNESCO’s Role in Cultural Heritage
Since its creation in 1946 in Paris, UNESCO, inspired by the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has worked in the defense of cultural heritage. Its Cultural Heritage Division is the agency responsible for safeguarding cultural heritage and museums, and managing relevant international campaigns.
The General Conference of UNESCO has produced two types of legal protectionist documents: Conventions and Recommendations.
Key UNESCO Affiliated Bodies
The network of agencies and organizations linked to UNESCO includes:
- The General Assembly, which brings together the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention.
- The World Heritage Committee, responsible for implementing the World Heritage Convention and deciding on new properties to be entered into the World Heritage List.
- The World Heritage Centre, which has the mission of ensuring the daily management of the Convention. It works closely with the Cultural Heritage Division, Culture Sector, UNESCO, ICOMOS, IUCN, ICCROM, and ICOM.
Supranational Level
Council of Europe’s Heritage Efforts
The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 with the aim of promoting the union of continental European countries under the principles of political democracy. Its Cultural Heritage Committee is the body responsible for ensuring the conservation of heritage and its optimal integration within the natural and human environment.
The European Union’s Cultural Commitment
Founded in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, it was only after 1992 that the European Union undertook an explicit commitment towards the cultural heritage of member countries, gaining cultural competence. The Commission proposed a specific program of action related to cultural heritage, the “Raphael Programme,” which had a budget of 30 million euros.
National Legal Framework (Spain)
The 1978 Spanish Constitution, in its Article 46, included principles guiding the preservation of the historical, cultural, and artistic heritage of the country.
Spanish Heritage Protection Categories
The law discusses hierarchical levels of cultural heritage protection. The categories are as follows, in order of importance:
- Good of Cultural Interest (BIC): the highest level of protection.
- Movable property registered in the General Inventory of Movable Property.
- Movable and immovable property of the Spanish Historical Heritage.
Regional Level (Spain)
Spain has transferred partially or completely the management of culture to the autonomous communities. State Law 16/1985 and other regulations are responsible for establishing agencies and central government powers related to heritage.
Local Level (Spain)
This level is mainly constituted by municipalities. Municipalities, through their councils, are responsible for the protection of local heritage. State Law 16/1985 reiterates the obligation of municipalities to adopt robust measures to prevent heritage loss, in cooperation with higher-level government agencies, such as the Provincial Councils in Spain.