IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

Abstract

World heritage is fast being depleted especially in the face of urbanization and climate change and there is urgent need to preserve and protect it. International law provides for the preservation and protection of the different forms of heritage. States are therefore obligated to protect the different forms of heritage within their territories. The World Heritage Convention was enacted for the preservation and protection of world heritage but it has had some challenges, among them, implementation at domestic level. Whereas both China and Uganda have ratified the convention, they are both still facing implementation challenges. Employing the doctrinal and comparative legal methods, the paper seeks to examine the efficacy of the World Heritage Convention in preserving world heritage. The paper further seeks to comparatively examine the extent to which China and Uganda have domesticated and implemented the convention. A conclusion is drawn that China has performed much better than Uganda in domesticating as well as the preservation of the world heritage within its jurisdiction. Uganda as well as other countries facing similar challenges as Uganda has great lessons to learn from China. Recommendations are made on how Uganda can improve her own situation.