Mr. Abdulqawi A. Yusuf Director
Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs, UNESCO
Biography
Cultural Heritage
The Notion of Cultural Heritage in International Law
This lecture explores the background to the introduction of the notion of “cultural heritage” in international law and analyzes the evolution of its scope and normative content as more legal instruments were adopted in the past thirty years on different aspects of cultural heritage. It also addresses the relationship and complementarities among different categories of cultural heritage (e.g. tangible, intangible and underwater cultural heritage) dealt with in various legal instruments most of which were elaborated and adopted in UNESCO. The legal effects of the interpretation and application of these instruments and the extent to which they have contributed to the emergence of an integrated notion of cultural heritage in international law are also discussed.
Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954;
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954;
Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1999;
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, 1970;
Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972;
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, 2001;
Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003;
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, 2005.
Books
J. Blake, Commentary on the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Leicester, Institute of Art and Law, 2006, 180 p.;
G. Camarda and T. Scovazzi, The Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage: Legal Aspects, Milano, Giuffrè, 2002, 453 p.;
K. Chamberlain, War and cultural heritage: an analysis of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two Protocols, Leicester, Institute of Art and Law, 2004, 333 p.;
F. Francioni and F. Lenzerini, The 1972 World Heritage Convention: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008, 576 p.;
P. Gerstenblith, Art, Cultural Heritage and the Law: Cases and Materials, Durham Carolina Academic Press, 2004, 932 p.;
P. Meyer-Bisch, Les droits culturels: projet de déclaration, Paris, UNESCO, 1998, 49 p.;
J.A.R. Nafziger and T. Scovazzi (Eds), The Cultural Heritage of Mankind, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008, 1118 p.;
P. O’Keefe and L.V. Prott, Law and the Cultural Heritage, Volume 3, London, Butterworths, 1989, 1049 p.;
P. O’Keefe, Commentary on the 1970 UNESCO Convention on Illicit Trafficking, Institute of Art and Law, 2007, 217 p.;
L. Pressouyre, The World Heritage Convention, twenty years later, Paris UNESCO, 1996, 62 p.;
A. Yusuf, Standard Setting in UNESCO:Normative Action in Education, Science and Culture; Essays in Commemoration of the Sixtieth Anniversary of UNESCO, Paris UNESCO, 2007, 407 p.
Articles
J. Blake, “On Defining the Cultural Heritage”, International and Comparative Law Quarterly, Volume 49, Part 1, 2000, p.61-85;
J. Blake, “On Developing a New International Convention for Safeguarding International Cultural Heritage”, Art, Antiquity and Law, Volume 8, No. 4, 2003, p. 381-411;
C. Brenner, “Cultural Property Law: Reflecting on the Bamiyan Buddha’s Destruction”, Suffolk Transnational Law Review, Volume 29, No. 2, 2006, p. 237-269;
M. F. Brown, “Heritage Trouble: Recent Work on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Property”, International Journal of Cultural Property, Volume 12, Issue 1, 2005, p. 40-61;
G. Carducci, “New developments in the Law of the Sea : the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage”, American Journal of International Law, Volume 96, No. 2, 2002, p. 419-434;
K. Chamberlain, “The Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict”, Art, Antiquity and Law, Volume 8, No. 3, 2003, p.209-240;
C. Forrest, Cultural Heritage as the Common Heritage of Humankind: A Critical Re-evaluation, Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa, Volume 40, Issue 1, 2007, p. 124-151;
F. Francioni, “The Role of International Law in the Protection of Cultural Heritage” in The Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage: Legal Aspects, Milano, Giuffrè, 2002, p.3-6;
F. Francioni, “Beyond State Sovereignty: The Protection of Cultural Heritage as a Shared Interest of Humanity”, Michigan Journal of International Law, Volume 25, No. 4, 2004, p. 1209-1228;
F. Francioni, “A Dynamic Evolution of Concept and Scope: From Cultural Property to Cultural Heritage”, in Standard Setting in UNESCO:Normative Action in Education, Science and Culture; Essays in Commemoration of the Sixtieth Anniversary of UNESCO, Paris UNESCO, 2007, p. 221-236;
F. Francioni, “Au-delà des traités: l’émergence d’un nouveau droit coutumier pour la protection du patrimoine culturel”, Revue générale de droit international public, Volume 111, No 1, 2007, p.19-41;
M. Frigo, “Cultural Property v. Cultural Heritage: A ‘Battle of Concepts’ in International Law”, International Review of the Red Cross, Volume 86, No. 854, 2004, p. 367-378;
D. Keane, “The Failure to Protect Cultural Property in Wartime”, DePaul Journal of Art and Entertainment Law, Volume 14, Issue 1, 2004, p.1-38;
P. Kuruk, “Cultural Heritage, Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Rights: An Analysis of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage”, Macquarie Journal of International and Comparative Environmental Law, Volume 1, Issue 1, 2004, p. 111-134;
L. Lankarani, “L’avant-projet de l’UNESCO pour la sauvegarde du patrimoine culturel immatériel, Annuaire français de droit international, Volume 48, 2002, p. 624-656;
P. Meyer-Bisch, “Le droit à la propriété intélectuelle: un droit individuel et commun” in Avancées et confins actuels des droits de l’homme aux niveaux international, européen et national, Mélanges offerts à Silvio Marcus Helmons, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2003, p. 243-257;
J.H. Merryman, “The Nation and the Object”, International Journal of Cultural Property, Volume 3, Issue, 1, 1994, p. 61-76;
J.A.R. Nafziger, “Cultural Heritage Law: The International Regime”, in The Cultural Heritage of Mankind, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008, p.145-247;
R. O’Keefe, “World Cultural Heritage: Obligations to the International Community as a Whole?”, International and Comparative Law Quarterly, Volume 53, Part 1, 2004, p. 189-209;
M. Popovytch, “Problems of Cultural Heritage as a Consequence of the Non-Legal Notion of Nation” in Displaced Cultural Assets: The Case of Western Europe and the Problems of Central and Eastern countries in the 20th century, Trio, 2004, p.109-115;
L.V. Prott, “Cultural Heritage Law: The Perspective of the Source Nations, Art, Antiquity and Law, Volume 5, No. 4, 2000, p. 333-342;
L.V. Prott, “Hunting as Intangible Heritage: Some notes on its Manifestations”, International Journal of Cultural Property, Volume 14, No. 3, 2007, p. 385-398;
H. Ruiz Fabri, “Culture Seized by Globalization: Can International Law be of any Help? Reflections on the Possible Future Legal Implications of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression”, Law of International Relations: Liber Amicorum Hanspeter Neuhold, 2007 p. 325-344;
C. Roussev, “A comparison of Antiquities-related Trade Laws within the General Framework of Cultural Heritage Law: The EU and National Models” in The Cultural Heritage of Mankind, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008, p. 729-768;
B. Srinivas, “The Unesco Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”, in The Cultural Heritage of Mankind, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008, p. 529-527.
S. Sucharitkul, “Evolution continue d’une notion nouvelle: le patrimoine commun de l’humanité” in International Law at a Time of Perplexity: Essays in Honor of Shabtai Rosenne, Dordrecht, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1989, p. 887-908;
J. Verhoeven, “Patrimoine culturel et droit international”, in Cursos Euromediteráneos Bancaja de derecho internacional, Volume. V, 2001, p. 667-717;
R. Wolfrum, “Reflections on the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict”, in Festschrift für Erik Jayme, European Law Publishers, 2004, p. 1789-1800;
N. Woudenberg van, “Displaced Cultural Property: The Tug-of-War between Restitution and Compensation”, Hague Yearbook of International Law, Volume 17, 2004, p. 77-94;
A. Yusuf, “Cultural Rights as Collective Rights in International Law”, in Multiculturalism and International Law, Athens, Sakkoulas Publications, 2007, p. 49-71;
A. Yusuf, “Article 1: Definition of Cultural Heritage”, in The 1972 World Heritage Convention: A Commentary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008, p. 23-50;
J. M. Zelig, “Recovering Iraq’s Cultural Property: What can be done to Prevent Illicit Trafficking”, Brooklyn Journal of International Law, Volume 31, No. 1, 2005, p. 289-323.
Report by the Director-General of UNESCO on the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage 2002 and on its follow-up, UNESCO, 2004, 16 p.
Recommended Reading
Books
A. Yusuf, Legal Aspects of Trade Preferences for Developing States:A Study in the Influence of Development Needs on the Evolution of International Law, Nijhoff Publishers, 1982, 185 p.;
A. Yusuf, Intellectual Property and International Trade: The TRIPs Agreement, (ed. with C. Correa)Kluwer Law International, (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business), first edition 1998, 469 p; second edition 2008, 528 p.;
A. Yusuf, International Technology Transfer: The Origins and Aftermath of the United Nations Negotiations on Draft Code of Conduct (ed. with S. J. Patel and P. Roffe), Kluwer Law International, 2000, 496 p.;
A. Yusuf, Standard-setting in UNESCO: Volume 1, Normative Action in Education, Science and Culture, (ed.) UNESCO Publishing and Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, edited in English and in French, 2007, 407 p.
Articles
A. Yusuf, "The Legal Status of Mercenaries in the Law of Armed Conflict" in A. Cassese (ed.), The New Humanitarian Law of Armed Conflicts, Editoriale scientifica, Naples, 1979, p. 113-127;
A. Yusuf, "Towards a New Legal Framework for Marine Research: Coastal State Consent and International Co-ordination", Virginia Journal of International Law, Volume 19, No. 2, 1979, p. 411-432;
A. Yusuf, "Differential Treatment as a Dimension of the Right to Development" in R.-J. Dupuy (ed.), The Right to Development at the International Level, The Hague Academy of International Law, 1980. p. 233-245;
A. Yusuf, "Differential and More Favourable Treatment of Developing Countries in International Trade: The GATT Enabling Clause", Journal of World Trade Law, Volume 14, No. 6, 1980, p. 488-507;
A. Yusuf, "L'élaboration d'un Code international de conduite pour le transfert de technologies : bilan et perspectives", Revue générale de droit international public, Volume 88, No. 4, 1984, p. 781-824 ;
A. Yusuf, “The Legal Framework for Stable, Remunerative and Equitable Commodity Prices in International Trade” in D. Dicke and E-U. Petersmann (ed.), Foreign Trade in the Present and a New International Economic Order, University Press, Fribourg, Switzerland, 1988, p. 122-146;
A. Yusuf, "Developing Countries and Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights", in Uruguay Round Papers on Selected Issues, New York, UNCTAD, 1989, p. 185-201;
A. Yusuf, "Transfer of technology", in M. Bedjaoui (ed.), International Law: Achievements and Prospects, UNESCO and Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1991, p. 691-705;
A. Yusuf, "Intellectual Property Protection and International Trade: The Exhaustion of Rights Revisited", (in collaboration with A. Moncayo von Hase), World Competition, Volume 16, No. 1,1992, p.115-131;
A. Yusuf, "Technology and Genetic Resources in the Biodiversity Convention: Is Mutually Beneficial Access Still Possible ?" inV. Sanchez and C. Juma, Biodiplomacy: Genetic Resources and International Relations, African Center for Technology Studies Press, Nairobi, 1994, p.233-240;
A. Yusuf, "International Law and Sustainable Development: The U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity", African Yearbook of International Law, Volume 2, 1994, p. 109-140;
A. Yusuf, "Reflections on the Fragility of State Institutions in Africa", African Yearbook of International Law, Volume 2, 1994, p. 3-8;
A. Yusuf, "Intellectual Property Protection in the Countries of Africa", International Journal of Technology Management, Volume 10, 1995, p. 269-292;
A. Yusuf, "The Role of the Legal Adviser in the Reform and Restructuring of an International Organization - The Case of UNIDO", Collection of Essays by Legal Advisers of States, Legal Advisers of International Organizations and Practitioners in the Field of International Law, United Nations, 1999, p. 329-349;
A. Yusuf, "Developing Countries and the Multilateral Trade Rules: The Continuing Quest for an Equitable Playing Field", in L. Boisson De Chazournes & V. Gowlland-Debbas (eds), The International Legal System in Quest of Equity and Universality, Liber Amicorum, Prof. Georges Abi-Saab, ( L.), Nijhoff, 2001, p. 389-410;
A. Yusuf, "Le Conseiller juridique d'une organisation internationale face à la pratique", La pratique et le droit international, Colloque de Genève, Société française pour le droit international, Paris, Pedone, 2004, p. 253-259 ;
A. Yusuf, "Government Collapse and State Continuity: The Case of Somalia", Italian Yearbook of International Law, Volume 13, 2003, p. 11-33;
A. Yusuf, "The Right of Intervention by the African Union : A New Paradigm in Regional Enforcement Action", African Yearbook of International Law, Volume 11, 2003, p. 3-21;
A. Yusuf, "The UNESCO Declarations on Bioethics : Emerging Principles and Standards of an ‘International Biolaw’?", in N. Boschiero (ed.), Bioetica e biotecnologie nel diritto internazionale e communitario, Giapichelli, 2006, p.129-140;
A. Yusuf, "Cultural Rights As Collective Rights in International Law”, in Multiculturalism and International Law: 2004 International Law Session, Thesaurus Acroasium., K. Koufa (ed.), Institute of International Public Law and International Relations of Thessaloniki, Sakkoulas, 2007, p. 49-71;
A. Yusuf, "UNESCO Standard-setting Activities on Bioethics: Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick", in F. Francioni (ed.), Biotechnologies and International Human Rights, Hart Publishing, 2007, p. 85-96;
A. Yusuf, "La coordination des actions dans le système des Nations Unies", inR. Chemain and A. Pellet (ed.), La Charte des Nations Unies, Constitution mondiale ?, Editions Pedone, 2007, p. 89-94 ;
A. Yusuf, "La nozione di beni culturali sotto protezione rafforzata e il ruolo dei comitati dell’ UNESCO per la protezione del patrimonio culturale", (in collaboration with L. Cavicchioli)inLa tutela internazionale dei beni culturali nei conflitti armati, a cura di Paolo Benvenuti e Rosario Sapienza, Giuffrè Editore, 2007, p. 55-74.
