ICOMOS mission

The National Committee of ICOMOS, Russia represents the International Council on Monuments and Sites and is a non-governmental organization affiliated with UNESCO. The mission of the ICOMOS NC, Russia is to promote the conservation, protection and use of monuments and sites. Members of ICOMOS NC, Russia participate in the development of doctrine, evolution and dissemination of ideas, as well as advocacy.

ICOMOS is an advisory body to the World Heritage Committee for the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. As such, it reviews cultural World Heritage nominations and ensures the conservation status of sites.

Its creation in 1965 is the logical outcome of initial negotiations between architects, historians and international experts, which began in the early twentieth century and materialized with the adoption of the Venice Charter in 1964. In 1972, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention came into force, obliging the participating countries to guarantee and ensure the conservation and development of cultural heritage sites of universal value. This mission requires daily monitoring of the condition of the site, saving it from the main threat today – aggressive commercial construction. At the alarm signal, national and international organizations, scientists, specialists and non-specialists, numerous activists and volunteers unite in the protection of the monument.

The National Committee is not only an accumulator of experience in conservation, restoration and reconstruction, but also a translator of advanced knowledge, methods and technologies through the activities of scientific committees covering the whole issue of conservation. The regional branches and scientific committees of the NC ICOMOS, Russia through numerous studies, conferences, symposia and discussions are gradually building the philosophical and doctrinal basis of heritage at the international level.