About 2015 Recommendation
The elaboration of the Recommendation, formally adopted by the 38th session of the General Conference on 17 November 2015, originated from the desire to supplement and extend the application of standards and principles laid down in existing international instruments referring to the place of museums, and to their related roles and responsibilities. An issue that was increasingly called for, noting especially that the last international instrument wholly dedicated to museums dates to 1960.
Following the preparatory phase which included an expert assessment meeting in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 and after a series of Executive Board resolutions and General Conference Decisions (see detailed chronology and history below), 2013 saw the Member States inviting the Director-General to elaborate a preliminary text of a new non-binding standard-setting instrument, in the form of a recommendation, and to submit the text at its 38th session in November 2015 for its possible adoption.
On the basis of comments received from Member States, UNESCO, in close cooperation with the International Council of Museums (ICOM), prepared a final report containing the draft Recommendation which was transmitted to Member States by the Director-General (CL/4101) on 3 April 2015. This report and accompanying draft were examined at the intergovernmental meeting of experts (category II) at UNESCO Headquarters on 27 and 28 May 2015 and a final draft text of the Recommendation was adopted on 28 May 2015 to be submitted for adoption by the 38th session of the General Conference.
Decisions and Resolutions
- [2011] 36th session of the General Conference “Protection and promotion of museums and collections” (36 C/Resolution 46)
- [2012] 190th session of the Executive Board “Protection and promotion of museums and collections” (190 EX/Decision 11)
- [2013] 191st session of the Executive Board “Preliminary study on the technical, legal and museological aspects relating to the desirability of a standard-setting instrument on the protection and promotion of museums and collections” (191 EX/Decision 8)
- [2013] 37th session of the General Conference “Preliminary study on the technical, legal and museological aspects relating to the desirability of a standard-setting instrument on the protection and promotion of museums and collections” (37 C/Resolution 43)
- [2014] 195th session of the Executive Board “Invitations to the intergovernmental meeting (Category II) related to a draft recommendation on the protection and promotion of museums and collections” (195 EX/Decision 35)
- [2015] 38th session of the General Conference "Proposal for a non-binding standard-setting instrument on the protection and promotion of various aspects of the role of museums and collections"
[2015] Observations on the Preliminary Report by Member States
In accordance with the “Rules of Procedure concerning recommendations to Member States and international conventions, covered by the terms of Article IV, paragraph 4, of the Constitution”, and following 37 C/Resolution 43 and 195 EX/Decision 35, the Director-General of UNESCO transmitted to Member States the preliminary report on the draft Recommendation on the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, requesting any comments they may have to be submitted by 10 January 2015 (CL/4076 of 11 September 2014).
The comments and observations submitted are listed below according to Member State, in alphabetical order and original language:
- Argentina SP
- Belgium EN
- Brazil EN
- Bulgaria EN
- Canada EN | FR
- Chad FR
- Chile ES
- China EN
- Colombia SP
- Czech Republic EN
- Denmark EN
- Ecuador EN
- Egypt EN
- Finland EN
- Guatemala SP
- Hungary EN
- Jordan AR
- Latvia EN
- Lithuania EN
- Mexico SP
- Netherlands EN
- Norway EN
- Paraguay SP
- Peru EN
- Portugal EN
- Romania EN
- Slovakia EN
- Sweden EN
- Tanzania EN
- Thailand EN
- Turkey EN
- Zambia EN
[2015] Proposed Amendments submitted by Member States
The proposed amendments submitted are listed below according to Member State, in alphabetical order and original language.
Events
- [2012] International conference organized by UNESCO, with ICOM and IBRAM, in Rio de Janeiro
- [2015] Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts (category II) related to a draft Recommendation on the Protection and Promotion of Museums, their Diversity and their Role in Society, Paris, UNESCO Headquarters, 27-28 May 2015, Room II Provisionnal Agenda
- [2015] Adoption of the Recommendation at the 38th session of the General Conference, UNESCO HQ, Paris