The UNESCO Declaration on the Responsibility of the Present Generations Towards Future Generations, adopted 12 November 1997 by UNESCO’s General Conference, requires that present generations should preserve the cultural diversity of humankind, and have the responsibility to identify, protect and safeguard the tangible and intangible cultural heritage and to transmit this common heritage to future generations. It served as a foundational document for the Summit of the Future and the Declaration on Futures Generations, adopted in 2024.
UNESCO is the United Nations organization that promotes cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture and communication in order to foster world peace. The Organization provides essential services to its Member States, by establishing global norms and standards, developing tools for international cooperation, producing knowledge for public policy and building global networks of sites and institutions listed on its lists.