The Impact of Uniform Laws on the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century

The protection and preservation of cultural heritage has generally been represented by the debate over the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece or the world-wide outrage of the destruction of Buddhist statues in Afghanistan. In this comprehensive guide, Kono (law, Kyushu University, Japan) and his contributors summarize recent international attempts to define cultural heritage and to create uniform laws for its protection. Kono gives a summary of the conclusions of several international meetings. He points out the breadth of topics that now fall under this designation. The most evident results of international agreements are the many UNESCO world heritage sites, considered a part of the legacy of all humanity. Other topics addressed are the movement of artifacts from the country of origin, underwater finds as on sunken ships and the need to preserve indigenous cultures and holy places. Another intangible heritage is that of craft skills that are being lost, an area of preservation in which Japan is leading the way. After the report on international meetings there are reports on the results of national attempts to preserve cultural heritage. Especially on the national level the problem of attitudes toward the relics of minority and indigenous groups is discussed. This is a comprehensive study that should be essential reading for anyone working to assure that the evidence of the past is not destroyed. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Toshiyuki Kono, Professor of Law at Kyushu University, Japan; the chairman of the Legal Committee of the 34th General Conference of UNESCO. He has published extensively on International Law and Culture, including Intangible Cultural Heritage and Intellectual Property – Communities, Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Development, (Intersensia, 2009).