The UK National Commission for UNESCO

The Convention, adopted on 2 November 2001 by the UNESCO General Conference, is intended to enable States Parties to effectively protect and preserve their underwater cultural heritage.

To date, 16 countries have ratified the Convention. The UK Government maintained its reservation about ratifying the Convention.

Expert Meeting in the UK to discuss the Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention

The Society of Antiquaries played host on 28 October 2005 to a gathering of over one hundred delegates from UK Government departments, national heritage agencies and key voluntary bodies who met to discuss ways of raising awareness of the 2001 UNESCO Underwater Heritage Convention, which the UK Government has so far declined to adopt.

The Convention sets rigorous standards for the protection and management of underwater cultural heritage in the vast expanses of the sea that lie beyond territorial limits.

Expert speakers from around the world gave an international perspective to the seminar; the links below will enable you to read or download the text of some of the key papers:

Guido Carducci, Chief of the International Standards Section, UNESCO The Current Status and Future Prospects for the 2001 Convention: the UNESCO Perspective (Word document, 24KB)
Mike Williams The UK Standpoint (Word document, 90KB)
Nessa O'Connor The Irish Experience (Rich Text Format, 62KB)
Thijs J. Maarleveld A Perspective from across the Channel (Word document, 43KB)
Ole Varmer The Perspective from Across the Atlantic (Rich Text Format, 68KB)
Craig Forrest and John Gribble Perspectives from Australia and South Africa (Rich Text Format, 59KB)
Sarah Dromgoole How the United Kingdom Can Work Towards Compliance with the UNESCO Convention 2001 (Word document, 65KB)

Participating organisations at the conference were the Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee, the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Institute of Field Archaeologists Maritime Affairs Group, the Nautical Archaeology Society, the UK National Commission for UNESCO, ICOMOS-UK, ICON and the Council for British Archaeology.

The Conference concluded with the agreement of a 'Burlington House Declaration' (Word document, 27KB).**

It was envisaged that each of the participating bodies will formally adopt the Declaration, which calls upon the UK Government to re-evaluate its position regarding the 2001 Convention and enter into discussions at the earliest opportunity with its heritage agencies, relevant non-governmental organisations and other interested parties with a view to taking the Convention forward.

** The UK National Commission for UNESCO, whilst participated at the Conference, has not formally adopted or signed up to the Burlington House Declaration.