ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization working in service to its Member States to promote the conservation of all forms of cultural heritage, in every region of the world. It operates in the spirit of the 2001 UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, which states that “Respect for the diversity of cultures, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation, in a climate of mutual trust and understanding are among the best guarantees of international peace and security.”
For more than six decades, ICCROM has partnered with Member States to support them in safeguarding heritage within their borders and beyond. Working at the international and governmental levels, and with institutions and professionals on the ground, the organization engages and informs new generations of professionals and the general public with an interest in heritage.
The only institution of its kind in the world, ICCROM is small and agile, enabling it to respond swiftly to the needs of its Member States. At the same time, as an intergovernmental organization with a vast network of conservation experts, ICCROM relies on formal institutional collaborations with organizations such as UNESCO, both Headquarters and Regional Offices together with its World Heritage Committee to which ICCROM is an Advisory Body; non-governmental organizations such as ICOMOS, ICOM, ICA and IIC; and scientific institutes and universities in Member States.
Those working on the front lines of heritage preservation, including scientists, conservators, museum curators, site managers, archivists, researchers and archaeologists rely on ICCROM for its world-class initiatives in conservation training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy.
ICCROM harnesses the power of cultural heritage to make the world a better place to live. By empowering all Member States to preserve their cultural heritage, ICCROM contributes to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of communities. ICCROM is also strategically placed to foster best practices and to communicate international standards and shared responsibility consistent with United Nations policies and objectives. ICCROM focuses on methods for managing deterioration of heritage, whether through slow decay or rapid or unexpected changes. It is well positioned to take a leadership role while also collaborating with major decision-making organizations to protect cultural heritage in the face of global change.
ICCROM’s mission is to provide Member States with the best tools, knowledge, skills and enabling environment with which to preserve their cultural heritage in all of its forms, for the benefit of all people. It achieves this by:
• Studying and promoting cultural heritage conservation;
• Mobilizing and coordinating expertise to address critical issues of conservation;
• Providing the training and research tools for implementation to strengthen the professional community.
ICCROM’s vision is for a world in which cultural heritage – its preservation, protection and celebration – is inextricably linked with notions of progress, inclusivity, well-being and stability.
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