An international conference which aims to develop and promote new ways of thinking about the protection of World Heritage sites is being held at Kent on 15/16 January.

The two-day conference, open to students and professionals, has been co-organised by Kent Law Lecturer Dr Sophie Vigneron in her role as principal investigator the Research Network on the protection of Cultural World Heritage Sites, a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Dr Vigneron is working on the project alongside co-investigator Professor Rob Pickard from Northumbria University.

Dr Vigneron said: ‘This conference will evaluate the efficiency of national laws, policy mechanisms and management plans that protect World Heritage Sites and will assess the implementation of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.’

Focusing particularly on cultural heritage sites, the conference will bring together academics and stakeholders involved in their management.

Dr Vigneron said: ‘Delegates will be engaged in a critical analysis of national laws and policies and will be asked to enhance stewardship of cultural heritage sites by suggesting possible improvements both to regulatory frameworks and to the World Heritage Convention itself.
More details, including a conference programme and information on how to register, is available on the ‘World Heritage Sites in a National Context’ webpage.