* Cultural Heritage and Human Rights

**Accession number #

** A unique identifier assigned to a cultural heritage object upon its acquisition by a museum or cultural institution.

**Adaptive reuse #

** The process of repurposing a historic building or site for a new use while preserving its cultural heritage value.

**Archaeological site #

** A location where archaeological remains, such as artifacts, structures, or features, are preserved and can provide information about human history and prehistory.

**Authenticity #

** The quality of a cultural heritage object or site that retains its original character, materials, and workmanship, and that provides an accurate and complete representation of its historical and cultural significance.

**Biological heritage #

** The genetic diversity of plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems and landscapes that support them, that have cultural heritage value.

**Cultural diversity #

** The variety of cultural expressions, practices, traditions, and values that exist within and between different human societies and communities.

**Cultural heritage #

** The physical and intangible expressions of human creativity, knowledge, and beliefs that have cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance, and that are inherited from past generations and passed on to future ones.

**Cultural heritage law #

** The legal framework that governs the protection, conservation, management, and use of cultural heritage resources, including both tangible and intangible forms of heritage.

**Cultural landscape #

** A geographical area that has been shaped and influenced by human activities and that has cultural heritage value, including both natural and man-made features.

**Cultural property #

** A term used in international law to refer to movable or immovable cultural heritage that has significant cultural, historical, or artistic value, and that is protected by national and international laws and regulations.

**Cultural rights #

** The rights of individuals and communities to access, enjoy, and participate in cultural life, to express their cultural identity, and to preserve and transmit their cultural heritage to future generations.

**Cultural tourism #

** Tourism that is focused on the discovery, appreciation, and understanding of cultural heritage resources, including historic sites, museums, festivals, and traditional practices.

**Decolonization #

** The process of challenging and dismantling the power structures and ideologies that have been imposed on colonized peoples and territories, and of reclaiming and affirming their cultural heritage and self-determination.

**Digital heritage #

** The digital representations and simulations of cultural heritage resources, including 3D models, virtual tours, and online databases, that can be used for research, education, and public engagement.

**Easement #

** A legal agreement that allows a property owner to grant a right of way or use of a portion of their land to another party, such as a cultural institution or government agency, for the purpose of preserving or protecting a cultural heritage resource.

**Ethical guidelines #

** The principles and standards that guide the responsible and respectful conduct of research, conservation, and presentation of cultural heritage resources, including issues of ownership, consent, representation, and cultural sensitivity.

**Ex situ conservation #

** The preservation of cultural heritage objects or species outside of their original context, such as in a museum, library, or botanical garden, in order to protect them from threats such as climate change, conflict, or natural disasters.

**Folk art #

** Traditional and vernacular artistic expressions that reflect the cultural heritage and identity of a community, including crafts, textiles, music, dance, and storytelling.

**Globalization #

** The process of increasing interconnectedness and interdependence among countries, cultures, and societies, which has both positive and negative impacts on cultural heritage and human rights.

**Heritage impact assessment #

** A process of evaluating the potential effects of a proposed development or activity on a cultural heritage resource, including both tangible and intangible forms of heritage, and of identifying measures to mitigate or avoid those effects.

**Historic building #

** A building or structure that has cultural heritage value due to its age, architectural style, or association with important events, people, or movements.

**Human rights #

** The fundamental rights and freedoms that are inherent to all human beings, regardless of their nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion, or other status, and that are enshrined in international law and treaties.

**Indigenous peoples #

** The original inhabitants of a territory or region who have distinct cultural, spiritual, and social identities, and who have been subject to colonization, discrimination, and marginalization.

**Intangible cultural heritage #

** The practices, expressions, and knowledge that are transmitted orally or by example, and that are sustained and recreated by communities and groups, including languages, music, dance, rituals, and traditional crafts.

**Inventory #

** A systematic record of cultural heritage resources, including both tangible and intangible forms of heritage, that provides information about their location, condition, significance, and ownership.

**Museum #

** An institution that collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets cultural heritage objects or specimens for the purpose of education, research, and public enjoyment.

**Museum ethics #

** The principles and standards that guide the responsible and respectful conduct of museum professionals, including issues of collection management, exhibition, and interpretation, and of cultural sensitivity and diversity.

**Museum object #

** A cultural heritage object or specimen that is held, managed, and exhibited by a museum, including artifacts, artworks, natural history specimens, and archival materials.

**Natural heritage #

** The biological and geological features and processes that have cultural heritage value, including ecosystems, landscapes, species, and geological formations.

**Ownership #

** The legal and cultural rights and responsibilities that individuals, communities, or institutions have over cultural heritage resources, including issues of possession, control, access, and disposition.

**Public engagement #

** The process of involving and empowering diverse audiences and stakeholders in the conservation, management, and interpretation of cultural heritage resources, including through education, participation, and collaboration.

**Repatriation #

** The return of cultural heritage objects or remains to their original communities or countries of origin, following a process of negotiation, consultation, and collaboration.

**Restitution #

** The return of cultural heritage objects or assets that have been unlawfully or unfairly removed, seized, or displaced, following a process of investigation, evaluation, and resolution.

**Ritual #

** A repeated and symbolic practice that is performed by individuals or groups, and that embodies and transmits cultural heritage values, meanings, and identities.

**Safeguarding #

** The protection, conservation, and promotion of cultural heritage resources, including both tangible and intangible forms of heritage, in order to ensure their sustainability, accessibility, and relevance for current and future generations.

**Significance #

** The cultural, historical, or aesthetic value that a cultural heritage resource possesses, based on its intrinsic qualities, contextual relationships, and associative meanings.

**Sustainability #

** The ability of cultural heritage resources to maintain their integrity, authenticity, and resilience over time, in the face of social, economic, and environmental changes and challenges.

**Tangible cultural heritage #

** The physical objects, structures, and sites that have cultural heritage value, including historic buildings, monuments, archaeological sites, museum objects, and natural heritage.

**Traditional knowledge #

** The accumulated and collective knowledge, skills, and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities, including agricultural, medicinal, and ecological knowledge, and that are transmitted orally or by example, and that are sustained and recreated by those communities.

**Underwater cultural heritage #

** The cultural heritage resources that are located underwater, including shipwrecks, submerged cities, and other archaeological or historical sites, and that are subject to specific legal and ethical guidelines for their protection, conservation, and interpretation.

**UNESCO #

** The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes the protection, conservation, and promotion of cultural and natural heritage, and that is responsible for the implementation of international conventions and treaties on cultural heritage and human rights.

**Value #

** The cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance that a cultural heritage resource possesses, based on its intrinsic qualities, contextual relationships, and associative meanings, and that is recognized and appreciated by different communities and stakeholders.

**World Heritage #

** The cultural and natural heritage sites that are designated by UNESCO as having outstanding universal value, and that are protected and managed by national and local authorities, in accordance with the World Heritage Convention.