The International Day for Monuments and Sites is observed on April 18 all around the world every year. The goal is to raise awareness of cultural heritage diversity, the vulnerability of sites and monuments, and the measures needed to maintain and conserve them. Every year, the International Council of Monuments and Sites (I.C.O.M.O.S.) sets a theme for initiatives organized by its members, national and international committees, and anyone else interested in commemorating this day. The organization invites participants to focus on contentious and complex narratives about cultural heritage, to encourage the development of new discourses based on a respectful and inclusive approach. Addressing erroneous or contentious historical interpretations appears to be critical to preserving our heritage, given that the deterioration or extinction of any cultural property, as stated by the UNESCO 1954 and 1972 treaties, causes harm to mankind as a whole.
We all need to work hard to preserve this important art, history, and heritage.
