Lesson 1: Cultural Heritage: Main Concepts and Definitions

Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society - The Faro Convention 2005

This convention, amongst others, encourages the parties to:

• reflect on the ethics and methods of presentation of the cultural heritage, as well as respect for diversity of interpretations;

• establish processes for conciliation to deal equitably with situations where contradictory values are placed on the same cultural heritage by different communities;

• develop knowledge of cultural heritage as a resource to facilitate peaceful co-existence by promoting

• trust and mutual understanding with a view to resolution and prevention of conflicts;

• public reflection and debate on the opportunities and challenges which the cultural heritage represents;

• take into consideration the value attached by each heritage community to the cultural heritage with which it identifies;

• take steps to improve access to the heritage, especially among young people and the disadvantaged, in order to raise awareness about its value, the need to maintain and preserve it, and the benefits which may be derived from it.