United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Topic A: Improving the Protection and Management of World Heritage

Topic B: Development of Cultural and Creative Industries

Working Language: English

Delegation: Single Delegate (50 delegates in total)

Rules of Procedure: Beijing Rules of Procedure (Motion-oriented)

Introduction to Committee and Topics:

Established in 1945, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is one of the most important UN agencies dedicated to building peace through cooperation in education, sciences and culture. It is also in the service of the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity.

Looking back on the past, world heritage is irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration and belongs to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located. Yet cultural heritage and the natural heritage are increasingly threatened with destruction not only by the traditional causes of decay, but also by changing social and economic conditions which aggravate the situation. It is incumbent on the international community as a whole to participate in the protection and management of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value.

Looking into the future, the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) have become a significant part of the world’s economy as they are diversifying our economies, contributing to people’s well-being, and strengthening local cultural identities. Whereupon promoting the development of CCIs has long been an indispensable goal for UNESCO. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on these industries. The precarious nature of cultural work has made art practitioners particularly vulnerable to the economic shocks caused by the crisis, which have, in turn, exacerbated the creative sectors’ pre-existing volatility and inequalities.

Therefore, it is essential to improve the protection and management of world heritage as well as include CCIs into social and economic recovery. Both financial and technical supports are needed to comply with health and safety measures in the post-pandemic era.