Significance of the World Heritage Emblem
By Foo Mee Sim
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia
reportedly submitted three more places in
2017 to obtain the UNESCO World Heritage Site status . If approved after processing by UNESCO , the heritage sites will be entitled to exhibit the World Heritage Emblem ; normally in the form of a plaque . The significance of this emblem will be better understood when one goes through the UNESCO documents detailed below .
As of June 2020 , a total of 1,121 World Heritage Sites ( 869 cultural , 213 natural , and 39 mixed properties ) exist across 167 countries . With 55 selected areas , China and Italy are the countries with the most sites on the list .
The heritage sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity , which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing , unmonitored , uncontrolled or unrestricted access , or threatened by local administrative negligence . Sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones .
The World Heritage List is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee , composed of 21 “ States Parties ” that are elected by their General Assembly . The programme catalogues , names , and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common culture and heritage of humanity . These heritage sites are easily identified with the World Heritage Emblem together with UNESCO logo inscribed on the plaque at the entrance of the site .
Before such emblem can be used , there are measurements and processes to fulfil as noted below .
Figure 1 : World Heritage Emblem
The World Heritage Emblem symbolises the interdependence of cultural and natural properties ( see Figure 1 ). The central square is a form created by humans and the circle represents nature , the two being intimately linked . The Emblem is round , like the world , but at the same time it is a symbol of protection . It symbolises the the World Heritage Convention , signifies the adherence of State Parties to the Convention , and serves to identify properties Inscribed on the World Heritage List . It is associated with public knowledge about the Convention and is the imprimatur of the Convention ’ s credibility and prestige . Above all , it is a representation of the universal values for which the Convention stands .
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided that the Emblem proposed by the artist could be used , in any colour or size , depending on its use , the technical possibilities and
GUIDELINES
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