There are a great number of international documents known by a wide variety of names. The most commonly used terms are Conventions, Recommendations and Charters. Some of these have legal force; others merely lead by example. Conventions are legal treaties binding on those who sign them. Recommendations are statements of best practice with the backing of issuing body. Charters have no legal force but recommend best practice and doctrine and can have considerable influence.
The two international governmental bodies most involved with the protection of cultural heritage are UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Both have developed a number of Conventions:
UNESCO
- 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in times of conflict - First Protocol (1954) and Second Protocol (1999)
- 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property
- 1972 Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
- 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage
- 2003 Convention on Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage
- 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
Council of Europe
- 1954 European Cultural Convention
- 1985 Granada Convention on protection of architectural heritage
- 1992 Valletta Convention on protection of archaeology
- 2000 Florence European Landscape Convention
- 2005 Faro Cultural Heritage Framework Convention
