Insofar as monuments and sites are spaces for sustainable development and reconciliation, UNESCO coordinates actions of its partners by administering the World Heritage Convention (1972).

The most significant feature of the World Heritage Convention is that it links together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties. The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.

The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List. It set out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them, stipulates the obligation of States Parties to report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties, also encourages Stetes Parties to strengthen the appreciation of the public for World Heritage properties and to enhance their protection through educational and information programs.