‘International Day for Monuments and Sites’ or ‘World Heritage Day’

18th April is celebrated all over the world as International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS).

IDMS was established by the ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) on 18th April 1982.The theme for the 2018 IDMS is “Heritage for Generations”.

Aim

• The aim of the International Day for Monuments and Sites is to encourage local communities and individuals throughout the world to consider the importance of cultural heritage to their lives, identities and communities, and to promote awareness of its diversity and vulnerability and the efforts required to protect and conserve it.

Background

• On 18 April 1982 on the occasion of a symposium organised by ICOMOS in Tunisia, it was suggested that the IDMS should be celebrated throughout the world. This idea was also approved by the UNESCO General Conference. It passed a resolution at its 22nd session in November 1983 recommending the member states to examine the possibility of declaring 18th April each year as the IDMS. IDMS had been traditionally known as the World Heritage Day.

Key facts

ICOMOS, the International Council for Monuments and Sites makes a number of suggestions on how to celebrate the World Heritage Day:-

• Visits to monuments and sites and restoration work
• Articles in newspapers and magazines as well as television and radio broadcasts
• Hanging banners in town squares to spread awareness about the preservation of our cultural heritage.
• Inviting local and foreign experts for conferences and interviews.
• Organizing discussions in cultural centres, city halls and other public spaces.
• Exhibitions
• Publications of books, post-cards, stamps, posters etc.
• Inaugurate a recently restored monument.
• Conducting awareness increasing activities amongst school children and youth.
• Awarding prizes to organizations or persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage.