April 17 Marks World Heritage Day

The International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, is observed on April 18 every year. This day was first celebrated by UNESCO in 1983 with an aim to promote awareness about the cultural heritage and diversity on the planet.

The primary objective of this day is to inspire people and local communities to value cultural heritage in their lives. In addition to monument preservation, the day also aims to raise public awareness of the diversity and vulnerability of cultural heritage.

Since 1983, the International Council on Monuments and Sites has set a theme around which events are centered on the day. For World Heritage Day 2024, the theme is "Disasters & Conflicts Through the Lens of the Venice Charter."

The Venice Charter was created in 1964, two decades after WWII, during a time that promised limitless progress and economic development. Now, six decades later, we face a climate emergency, a growing number of natural disasters, and conflicts that destroy cultural sites and displace communities on a massive scale.

In 2024, ICOMOS will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Venice Charter, which will feature as a key narrative to ICOMOS events throughout the year. "The IDMS will kick off the official celebration, leading up to the anniversary of the Venice Charter on May 31," the organization said.