Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra World Heritage Site. Listed in 2023 as World Heritage in Danger)
Photo: simbiothy, Depositphotos
On May 12, 2024, Ukraine marked the 70th anniversary of its membership in UNESCO, highlighting its commitment to education, scientific cooperation, and the protection of world cultural heritage.
ON May 12, 2024, Ukraine celebrated the 70th anniversary of its membership in UNESCO, emphasizing its long-standing dedication to promoting scientific cooperation, education, and the protection of world cultural heritage. Since regaining its independence in 1991, Ukraine has been instrumental in initiating key decisions that have shaped UNESCO’s current development, including an international campaign to eradicate illiteracy. This initiative received widespread recognition and became a cornerstone of UNESCO’s multi-year programs in education.
Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra World Heritage Site. Listed in 2023 as World Heritage in Danger)
Photo: Anton Cherkio
In 1993, Ukraine launched the “Peace Culture Programme,” which reoriented UNESCO’s activities towards fostering a culture of peace, trust, and tolerance. This led to the establishment of the interdisciplinary project “Toward the Culture of Peace,” integrated into UNESCO’s strategic directions until 2001. The 56th session of the UN General Assembly supported Ukraine’s proposal to proclaim 2002 as the International Year for the Protection of World Cultural Heritage.
World Heritage Site, listed in 2023 as World Heritage in Danger)
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov & Vlada Liberova
As an active member, Ukraine has been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board four times, three of which were since 1991. Ukraine is also represented in eight working bodies of UNESCO, addressing issues from the protection of cultural property to the promotion of physical education and sport.
Today, the UNESCO World Heritage List includes seven cultural and one natural site from Ukraine. Additionally, five Ukrainian elements are part of The Memory of the World Register, and ten Ukrainian and cross-border biosphere reserves are included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Five Ukrainian elements are listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including the Culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking, a traditional dish integral to Ukrainian life.
Photo: Kasia Strek / The Guardian
However, many cultural objects are currently endangered. Sites like the “Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese” in Sevastopol, and biosphere reserves “Askania Nova” and “Chornomorsky” in the Kherson region, are in territories temporarily occupied by Russia. Amid ongoing conflict, Ukraine has intensified efforts within UNESCO to protect its cultural heritage. As of April 10, 2024, UNESCO has verified damage to 351 sites since the conflict began on February 24, 2022.
Republic of Singapore
H.E. Kateryna Zelenko
In 2023, 25 Ukrainian cultural heritage sites received enhanced protection under the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The UNESCO Executive Council has adopted 15 decisions monitoring the situation in Crimea, emphasizing the need for additional oversight due to the lack of transparency in the region.
Global solidarity is essential for safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting peace. The Inaugural Peace Summit on June 15-16, 2024, in Switzerland, aims to develop a comprehensive plan for global peace and security.
As Ukraine marks seven decades of UNESCO membership, it reaffirms its commitment to cultural diversity, education, and the preservation of world heritage. Achieving just and lasting peace, protected by international law, is crucial for saving lives and safeguarding our shared cultural heritage for future generations.
Written by: H.E. Kateryna Zelenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Singapore
Source: Embassy of Ukraine
