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 50th Anniversary of the Japanese Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties
International Symposium on Cultural Diversity and Heritage
Tokyo, Japan, 18-21 December 2000 |
| The International Symposium on Cultural Diversity and Heritage was held on 18-21 December, 2000 by the sponsorship of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan and the Tokyo National Research Institute of Cultural Properties. Participants from inside and outside of Japan discussed changing concepts of cultural heritage, various factors affecting cultures and heritage, such as recent developments in science and technology notably informatics and communication technology, rapidly changing life styles, and globalization in industries, trades and tourism. At the end of the Symposium Tokyo Declaration on Cultural Diversity and Heritage was adopted.
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Program (including information about presentation titles and presentators) is available here.
Tokyo Declaration on Cultural Diversity and Heritage
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Law for
the Protection of Cultural Properties, experts from across the
world and representatives from international organizations, invited
by the Japanese authorities, the Agency for Cultural Affairs and
the Tokyo National Research Institute of Cultural Properties,
met in Tokyo and examined issues related to the expanding definition
of cultural heritage and the evolution of mechanisms developed
to ensure its continued diversity and enrichment.
This work benefited from the stimulating context given by the experience of the Japanese Law, an instrument whose evolution over half-a-century constitutes an important resource deserving recognition in the wide development of tools for cultural heritage. Participants examined links between Cultural Diversity and Heritage, specific identities and universal values, artifacts and living traditions. Such universal concerns are increasingly shared at the national and international levels by authorities as well as non-governmental organizations and individuals.
1. Cultural diversity enriches human culture. The current mass movements in population across the world mean that cultural pluralism is a reality for most societies. Just as biological diversity is recognized as an essential component of a living and sustainable ecosystems, so cultural diversity and heritage may be understood as important components of sustainable societies.
2. Cultural heritage, in the diversity of its expressions, both tangible and intangible, plays an essential role in defining specific cultural identities and universal values. Interest in ensuring its dynamic continuity as a record, a part of a living culture or a resource against poverty and exclusion, challenges us to pursue the creative development of policy, legislative tools as well as activities to enhance respect, understanding, sharing and care.
3. At this turning point in history, the processes of globalization, modernization and rapid change in such fields as economy, communications or tourism, may create pressures on cultural diversity and heritage (tangible and intangible). It is important to ensure that the benefits of these forces, including greater international exchange, cooperation, communications and ongoing technological developments in a pluralist society are not offset by loss of cultural diversity. Development has to achieve a balance between specific cultural identities and universal values to avoid tensions that can lead to conflict rather than enrichment.
4. Within our shared common heritage, it is the right of all peoples, with all their specific differences including minorities and/or indigenous groups, to maintain the diversity and richness of their cultures and memory as expressed in their cultural heritage, be it intangible traditions, language, beliefs and knowledge carried and transmitted by people or material objects, archives, works of art, buildings, cities or landscapes. It is also their right to help determine the future of that heritage.
5. It is the responsibility of each pluralist society to manage cultural differences and diversity so that potential for enrichment is realized rather than potential for conflicts. Education in all its forms is an important component of this responsibility, to ensure the understanding of diverse cultural heritage, the ways it can be protected and transmitted to future generations, and the ability to face changes in a creative manner.
6. It is the responsibility of all governmental and non-governmental organizations, communities, cultural groups and individuals, to contribute to the recognition, enrichment and transmission of this diverse cultural heritage, and to develop skills and tools through education, dialogue, creativity, interpretation, mediation, capacity building and sharing of knowledge.
7. Creativity and the ethics of respect are essential to this process of protecting cultural heritage whose success relies on supporting actions. These include to recognize and reinforce the sense of cultural custodianship and care, to stimulate the contribution of communities and cultural groups to decisions affecting heritage, to involve younger generations, to improve the quality of expert advice and professional practice, and to ensure effective protection for cultural diversity and heritage, particularly in activities including cultural tourism carried out in an intercultural context, national or international.
Tokyo, 21 December 2000 |
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