UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

• For users:
• Database potential users:
• Who is the UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws for?
• Contents
• What type of information is stored in the UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws?
• Why is the information stored in this Database useful?
• Searching the Database
• How do I search the Database?

• Cultural Heritage:
• Definition of the cultural heritage
• What is meant by “cultural heritage”?
• Dangers and threats
• Protecting the cultural heritage, but from what?
• New dangers?
• UNESCO and the cultural heritage
• What policies is UNESCO employing to protect the cultural heritage?
• Cooperation and partnership
• Is UNESCO alone in its efforts to protect the cultural heritage?  

• National legislation and international legal instruments:
• National legislation
• Why have a database of NATIONAL LEGISLATION?
• What types of standard-setting instrument can be found in the Database?
• What are import and export certificates for cultural property for?
• What is the difference between national legislation and international texts?
• International legal instruments
• What types of legal instrument does UNESCO use at the international level to protect the cultural heritage? 
• Which international texts govern the cultural heritage? 

• Member States:
• Member States Area
• What is the “Member States Area” for?
• Source
• Who provides the information on national laws contained in the database?
• Data protection
• How is the online data protected?
• Updating online legislation
• Is the legislation online still in force? 

• Contacts:
• Importing/exporting cultural property
• I would like to export and/or import cultural property. From whom can I find out more? 
• Publications
• Are there any free publications or brochures about protecting the cultural heritage?
• Questions, comments, feedback
• If I have a question, comment or feedback about the UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws, who do I contact?