On 19 June 2025, the Republic of Sierra Leone ratified five UNESCO culture conventions, marking a significant step forward in its engagement in international cultural cooperation.
Sierra Leone ratified:
- 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
- 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property
- 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
- 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
- 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
This decision reflects the country’s commitment to safeguarding heritage in all its forms, promoting creativity and cultural diversity, and contributing to peace through culture, in line with UNESCO’s mandate.
This achievement aligns with and strengthens UNESCO’s Flagship Programme 3 for Global Priority Africa, as it will provide Sierra Leone with the relevant tools and support to implement measures to prohibit and prevent the import, export and transfer of cultural property under the 1970 Convention. This will also support the country in protecting movable and immovable cultural properties under the 1954 Hague Convention, as well as to address the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. In addition, this move makes the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage the second most ratified Convention in Africa with a 98% ratification rate, closely behind the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
Sierra Leone’s ratification of UNESCO’s culture conventions reflects the spirit of shared responsibility to protect and promote culture for future generations.
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Source:https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/sierra-leone-ratifies-5-unesco-culture-conventions