Learn & Discover

Capacity is a concept or practice used to reduce harm from hazards and manage emergencies affecting people, assets, and heritage. It supports preparedness, response, and recovery decisions with clear roles and prioritized actions.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Policies and practices put in place to ensure that children are safe from abuse or exploitation in all activities related to cultural heritage. This is especially relevant for heritage sites that involve children (like education programs, workshops in communities, or children performing in cultural events). Child safeguarding measures include vetting staff, providing training on child protection, and establishing clear reporting procedures for any concerns.

Source: UNESCO, Hague Convention, UNIDROIT, ICOM

Citizen Science describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Cleaning is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Strategies and measures to protect cultural heritage from the effects of climate change. This includes adjusting how sites are managed in response to rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, more intense storms, or changing humidity patterns. Examples are installing better drainage at flood-prone historic sites, choosing climate-resistant materials for repairs, or documenting at-risk traditions so they are not lost due to environmental changes.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

A set of professional guidelines that outline the ethical responsibilities and appropriate conduct for individuals working in the heritage sector. For example, conservators, archaeologists, and museum professionals often follow a code of ethics that covers issues like honesty in research, respecting the cultural significance of artifacts, obtaining necessary permissions, avoiding conflicts of interest, and ensuring the well-being of communities connected to the heritage.

Source: UNESCO, Hague Convention, UNIDROIT, ICOM

Cold Chain (Heritage) is a concept or practice used to reduce harm from hazards and manage emergencies affecting people, assets, and heritage. It supports preparedness, response, and recovery decisions with clear roles and prioritized actions.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Collections Care is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

The shared pool of memories and knowledge held by a group of people, often passed through generations. It shapes a community’s understanding of its past and identity, as seen in shared narratives, monuments, or commemorative events.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Acts of remembrance honoring people or events of significance, often through ceremonies, memorials, or anniversaries. Communities commemorate to keep memories alive, using symbols or rituals to pay respect and reinforce shared history.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Community Consultation describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

The process of enabling local communities to take an active, meaningful role in managing and protecting their own cultural heritage. This involves building skills, providing access to resources, and creating governance structures where community members can make decisions. Empowered communities are more likely to sustain heritage initiatives, as they feel ownership and responsibility over the outcomes.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Community Engagement involves actively involving local communities in decision-making, protection efforts, and recovery processes related to cultural heritage, recognizing them as key stakeholders and knowledge holders.

Source: UNESCO

The active involvement of local community members in the preservation, interpretation, and decision-making processes of cultural heritage. This goes beyond one-way communication – it includes workshops, community-led activities, volunteer programs, and forums where residents can share knowledge and voice concerns. Genuine community engagement helps make heritage initiatives more sustainable, as they reflect the community’s own priorities and foster local stewardship.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Community Heritage refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Community Warning is a concept or practice used to reduce harm from hazards and manage emergencies affecting people, assets, and heritage. It supports preparedness, response, and recovery decisions with clear roles and prioritized actions.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Compatibility (Materials) is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Complaint Mechanism describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

A systematic assessment of the current state of a heritage structure or collection, documenting any deterioration, damage, or risks. Professionals carry out condition surveys to understand conservation needs – for instance, noting cracks in a museum building, fading pigments on a painting, or pests in storage. The survey findings guide restoration priorities and the development of conservation or maintenance plans.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Conflict Resolution describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Conflict Sensitivity describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Conservation Ethics is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Conservation Management Plan is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

A conservation treatment focused on strengthening and stabilizing fragile materials or structures. For example, a crumbling wall painting or decaying wooden beam may be consolidated by impregnating it with a suitable resin or lime-based solution. Consolidation helps prevent further deterioration by binding weakened components together while minimally altering the object’s appearance.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Contamination Control is a concept or practice used to reduce harm from hazards and manage emergencies affecting people, assets, and heritage. It supports preparedness, response, and recovery decisions with clear roles and prioritized actions.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Contingency Plan is a concept or practice used to reduce harm from hazards and manage emergencies affecting people, assets, and heritage. It supports preparedness, response, and recovery decisions with clear roles and prioritized actions.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Contractor Compliance relates to the legal, institutional, or policy frameworks that govern heritage protection and emergency action. It clarifies responsibilities, permissible actions, and cooperation across jurisdictions and organizations.

Source: UNESCO, Hague Convention, UNIDROIT, ICOM

An organized system or framework for different stakeholders to work together effectively during an emergency. In heritage protection, a coordination mechanism might involve cultural authorities, emergency services, local communities, and international experts sharing information and resources. Clear coordination ensures that efforts like damage assessment, salvage, and security are carried out without conflict or duplication.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Corrosion Inhibition is a conservation approach or technique used to stabilize, preserve, or restore heritage materials and structures. It aims to protect significance while minimizing unnecessary change and documenting all interventions.

Source: ICCROM, ICOMOS

Associations of artisans or craftspeople, especially common in medieval and early modern times, organized to regulate the training, quality, and trade of specific crafts. Guilds played a key role in transmitting traditional craftsmanship skills, setting standards, and protecting the interests of their members within a community.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Crisis Communication is a concept or practice used to reduce harm from hazards and manage emergencies affecting people, assets, and heritage. It supports preparedness, response, and recovery decisions with clear roles and prioritized actions.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Cultural Appropriation describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Cultural Continuity refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Cultural Diversity refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

The gradual weakening or loss of a community’s traditional culture, typically due to external pressures like globalization, modernization, or displacement. Signs of cultural erosion include declining use of an ancestral language, fading traditional practices, or younger generations becoming disconnected from their heritage.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Cultural Heritage refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Cultural Heritage Protection refers to the safeguarding, conservation, and management of tangible and intangible heritage assets before, during, and after disasters. It aims to preserve historical, cultural, social, and identity-related values for present and future generations through preventive, emergency, and recovery measures.

Source: UNESCO, ICCROM

Cultural Identity refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Cultural Impact Assessment relates to the legal, institutional, or policy frameworks that govern heritage protection and emergency action. It clarifies responsibilities, permissible actions, and cooperation across jurisdictions and organizations.

Source: UNESCO, Hague Convention, UNIDROIT, ICOM

Cultural Landscape refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Cultural Mapping refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Cultural objects, traditions, or artworks that are considered the inalienable heritage of a community or nation. These are items of such importance (historically or spiritually) that they are often protected by law from being sold or exported, as they symbolically belong to the community at large rather than any single owner.

Source: UNESCO, Hague Convention, UNIDROIT, ICOM

Cultural Property refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Cultural Property Export Permit relates to the legal, institutional, or policy frameworks that govern heritage protection and emergency action. It clarifies responsibilities, permissible actions, and cooperation across jurisdictions and organizations.

Source: UNESCO, Hague Convention, UNIDROIT, ICOM

The capacity of a community’s cultural heritage – its traditions, values, and identity – to endure and recover from challenges or disruptions. A culturally resilient community adapts to change (such as migration, conflict, or disasters) while maintaining or reasserting its core cultural expressions.

Source: UNDRR, UNESCO

Deliberate efforts by communities to revive and strengthen fading or lost cultural practices and traditions. This can involve re-learning ancestral languages, re-establishing ceremonies, or reintroducing traditional arts and crafts to ensure they remain a vibrant part of community life.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Cultural Rights describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

A thematic pathway or network that links multiple heritage sites and locations across one or more regions or countries. These routes are defined by a common historical, cultural, or artistic theme (such as a pilgrimage trail or trade route) and promote understanding of shared heritage through the journey.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

Cultural Sensitivity describes ethical principles or engagement practices that protect people, respect communities, and improve collaboration in heritage work. It emphasizes consent, accountability, and culturally appropriate decision-making.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Cultural Significance refers to cultural expressions, places, or objects valued for their historical, artistic, social, or spiritual meaning. It helps communities maintain identity and continuity while guiding protection and responsible use.

Source: UNESCO, ICOMOS

The process by which knowledge, beliefs, languages, and skills of a culture are handed down from one generation to the next. It ensures continuity of heritage by teaching younger members of the community through practice, storytelling, and example.

Source: ICCROM, UNESCO

Customs Seizure relates to the legal, institutional, or policy frameworks that govern heritage protection and emergency action. It clarifies responsibilities, permissible actions, and cooperation across jurisdictions and organizations.

Source: UNESCO, Hague Convention, UNIDROIT, ICOM