CubaPLUS Magazine

Cuba is participating with a delegation in the UNESCO 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, a forum where it shared its experiences in the protection of registered sites and other sites of interest this Tuesday.

During the ongoing event, which is being held in Paris until July 16th, the island's delegation highlighted recent milestones, such as the approval by the National Assembly of the General Law for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage. This legislation reinforces sustainable management for heritage professionals and communities.

Furthermore, the delegation mentioned progress in the preparation of the dossier for the Cuban Caribbean Reef System, which encompasses marine ecosystems of high biodiversity threatened by rising sea levels and coral bleaching.

The delegation from the largest of the Antilles at the 47th Session includes Nilson Acosta, Vice President of the National Council of Cultural Heritage; Aylem Hernández, Deputy Director of Science, Technology and Innovation at the National Center for Protected Areas; and Laura Álvarez, Third Secretary of the Permanent Delegation of the island to UNESCO.

The World Heritage Committee, a body comprised of 21 States Parties to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, will review 30 new nominations and the conservation status of 248 sites already inscribed on the list, 56 of which are in danger.

Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the Convention adopted in 1972 and recalled that Small Island Developing States receive special attention from UNESCO in terms of implementing the multilateral instrument.

Additionally, Cuba called for solidarity and an end to policies and actions that threaten universal heritage and hinder the activities of countries in its safeguarding.

In this regard, the island's delegation denounced at UNESCO the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States for over 60 years, as well as the Israeli aggressions against the Gaza Strip, a destroyed and blocked Palestinian enclave, and Iran.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)