We would like wish you all a happy 2018 and to seize the opportunity to thank those people who have made Italy’s accomplishments at UNESCO possible over the last year.
2017 was indeed a positive year for Italy in all of UNESCO’s fields of competence, starting from the protection of cultural heritage, where our country’s contribution has strengthened the Organization’s stand in this crucial field.
Italy was at the heart of numerous key initiative in 2017: the Action Plan of the Strategy for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (“Culture Blue Helmets”), the inclusion of the protection of cultural heritage in case of natural disasters, the international Appeal which was launched last during the General Conference in the month of November, our country’s strengthened presence in a wide range of international cooperation initiatives. Italy’s work at UNESCO has prompted several initiatives from the other Member States, also in the framework of other international bodies and namely of the United Nations Security Council – where the link between the protection of cultural heritage and international peace and security was recognized for the first time (Resolution 2347 of March 2017).
Italy was also elected Chair of the Culture Commission of the General Conference (for 2017-2019) and to the Committee for the protection of cultural heritage in the event of armed conflict (for 2017-21). Our contribution to these important topics will be further enhanced by our presence in these bodies.
In the month of May, the “Recovered Treasures” exhibition took place at UNESCO’s headquarters, providing insight on the work of the Carabinieri Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, a concrete testimony of Italy’s engagement in the field.
Several inscriptions took place during 2017:
– in the month of June, the site of Tepilora, Rio Posada and Montalbo, in Sardinia, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Network of Biosphere Reserves (MAB Programme),
– in the month of July, the Venetian Works of Defense (Bergamo, Palmanova and Peschiera del Garda) and the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians were inscribed on the World Heritage List during the World Heritage Committee meeting which took place in Cracow.
– in the month of October, 4 cities entered UNESCO’s Network of creative cities for the first time: Alba for gastronomy, Carrara for craftsmanship, Milan for literature and Pesaro for Music. Furthermore, the documentary heritage of Antonio Carlos Gomes, the “composer of two worlds”, which is kept in the Museo della Scala in Milan, was included in the Memory of the World Register,
– in the month of December, the “Art of Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo” was inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
2017 was also characterized by UNESCO’s recognition of an important scientific and cultural initiative: “Ice Memory”, as well as by Italy’s election to the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (for 2018-19) and to the Approval Committee of the Fond for the Elimination of Doping in Sport (for 2018-19).
As you can see, 2017 was very positive for Italy and we can only hope to do even better next year!
