The concept of ‘outstanding universal value’ in the World Heritage Convention

Abstract

The basic criterion for inclusion of a property on the World Heritage List is that of ‘outstanding universal value’, as defined in the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The paper demonstrates the problems encountered in attempting to apply the concept of universality to material culture; this is reflected in the cultural and regional imbalances in the present List. It is recommended that there be a moratorium on the addition of further properties already well represented on the List and that active steps be taken to include types of cultural property and geocultural regions that are currently underrepresented, such as industrial heritage, cultural landscapes and nonmonumental cultures.