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Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
Twenty States ratified the Convention, which came into effect on 2 January 2009.
The Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage forms part of a collection of seven agreements approved by the UNESCO, which constitute a coherent body and complement international agreements and aim to promote cultural diversity in all its forms.
It is an indispensable complement to UNESCO’s rules and regulations, which guarantee underwater cultural heritage legal protection and aim to end the illegal trafficking of said heritage.
The Convention was adopted in 2001 by the General Conference of the UNESCO. Its objective is to guarantee enhanced protection for the remains of shipwrecks and other vestiges that rest beneath the water. The global community adopted this international agreement in response to the increased looting and destruction of underwater cultural heritage by treasure hunters.
The Convention’s four essential principles are:
- Responsibility to protect underwater heritage
- Preserve said heritage in situ
- No to the commercial exploitation of vestiges and yes to cooperation between the States
- Bolster public awareness on the importance of heritage and promote specific training
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