AAK-UIA WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION @50TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE

2022 is an important milestone for the World Heritage Convention since it celebrates 50th anniversary
after its adoption in 1972; counting 1154 natural and cultural heritage sites listed on the UNESCO World
Heritage List from over 160 countries since its adoption. For this purpose; UNESCO World Heritage Centre
launched and supports a year-long programme of celebratory events, discussion forums, conferences and
campaigns to draw attention to the significance and future of our common natural and cultural heritage
under the theme “The Next 50: World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity and innovation”.

In this context; UIA Heritage and Cultural Identity Work Program in collaboration with the Architectural
Association of Kenya (AAK) are pleased to organise “World Heritage Convention – 50th Anniversary
Conference” in Mombasa, Kenya on the 20-22 February, 2023 as a tribute to the adoption of the World
Heritage Convention. This event is in line with the UIA HCI Work Programme’s objectives which are as
follows:
• Engage in questions of urban and sustainable development, rehabilitation, renovation,
conservation and heritage management of existing sites, striving to establish high international
standards for good practice.
• Standardise and promote methods of the management of cultural heritage for architecture
and heritage sites.
• Work to protect existing and future heritage and cultural sites from human, natural or climate
change-induced disasters.
• Collaborate with international bodies to ensure wider dissemination and adoption of
international best practices in heritage and culture.
• This international event will take place in hybrid format combining both in person and online
presentations to allow for a wider participation from all the UIA member countries.

KEY THEMES
The aim of “World Heritage Convention – 50th Anniversary Conference” is to draw attention to the
significance of our cultural and natural heritage as well as their crucial role in planning the resilient
future of our planet against the crisis and challenges that are awaiting. For this purpose, the experiences
gained during the past 50 years of the World Heritage Convention and its impact on heritage sites
will be presented by experts from different regions worldwide. The conference aims to dedicate its
outcomes in relevant with the objectives of UNESCO* under the following topics:
• Innovative ways for the safeguard and conservation of heritage sites in the next 50 years,
• Resilience solutions for the heritage site and the communities living in the face of climate
change,
• Models of sustainable tourism,
• Reconciliation of conservation and urban/rural development
• Contribution as well as threats of new technologies to the protection and promotion of
heritage
• Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to the future conservation efforts
• The role of cultural and natural heritage to meet the increasing environmental and social
challenges of our times