International Conference, With the Special Support of The Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism And the City of Ravenna, « UNESCO World Heritage Between Education and Economy A Legal Analysis », 27-28 October 2016, Ravenna, School of Law – Via Oberdan 1, Italy.

The International Conference, belonged to the series of international scientific events within the framework of "International Economic Law for Sustainable Development" (IEL 4 SD), aims to generate much heat in discussion and debate on the interaction between UNESCO World Heritage and education, and UNESCO World Heritage, economics and International Economic Law. The intention was to investigate how the UNESCO sites act as hotspots for promoting local development, and thus thinking on the way in which the UNESCO World Heritage can be used as an asset for economic and social development through education and tourism, as provided in all the UNESCO Conventions -requiring State Parties to promote by all appropriate means, and in particular by educational and information programmes, appreciation and respect by their peoples of the UNESCO World Heritage. More broadly, the present Conference intended to illustrate the legal framework creating, supporting and promoting the UNESCO World Heritage, stressing lights and shadows of the normative instruments, and so proposing improvements of the current legal framework, financing tools and resources.

Ivana Otasevic, the Chair's Assistant Director, gave a presentation on the following topic : The main objective was to evaluate the behaviour of the Parties to the 2005 Convention when negotiating and adopting bilateral and regional trade agreements. It focused more specifically on the implementation of Articles 16 (Preferential treatment for developing countries) and 21 (International consultation and coordination) of the 2005 Convention, as reflected in the application of eighty-seven bilateral and regional agreements since the adoption of this legal instrument. Particular attention has been be paid to the positions taken by the historical defenders of the 2005 Convention, that are Canada and the European Union, in the context of the CETA negotiations, TPP and TTIP. Moreover, facing the rise of digital technologies in several areas of cultural industries and considering their impact, both real and potential, on the diversity of cultural expressions, the presentation gave a special attention to the trade agreements that deal specifically with electronic commerce.

For further information, visit Conference Programme.