Cambodia urges UNESCO to establish a global framework against unauthorized reproduction of World Heritage sites
- Editorial team
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Kingdom of Cambodia solemnly called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to urgently establish clear and legally binding global rules to combat unauthorized reproduction and distortion of inscribed World Heritage properties.
Speaking at the 25th General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, held on November 24 and 25 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Her Excellency Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, warned against the resurgence of practices of copying or imitation of heritage sites, which she described as a direct threat to the "integrity, authenticity, and cultural identity" of properties recognized for their exceptional universal value.
A call for consistent international rules
In her speech, Minister Sackona emphasized the need for a comprehensive and coherent regulatory framework, able to fill the persistent gaps in the application of existing international instruments – including the
Convention of 1970 on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
"Despite half a century of fruitful cooperation between UNESCO and its Member States, we now observe legal loopholes exposing our most precious sites to unjustified cultural appropriations and alterations that threaten their profound meaning," she declared.
The example of Angkor Wat and ethical stakes
The Minister recalled concerns expressed by Cambodia in July 2025 about the construction, in a neighboring country, of a large-scale replica of Angkor Wat – an architectural masterpiece inscribed on the World Heritage List since 1992.
She qualified this initiative as a "serious violation of heritage ethics," affecting not only the physical authenticity of the monument but also its intangible identity and the collective memory it embodies.
Towards a collective and legal response
Dr. Sackona urgently asked the World Heritage Center and UNESCO’s advisory legal bodies to examine the issue to develop binding legal guidelines within the frameworks of the 1970 and 1972 Conventions. She also called for strengthened cooperation among States Parties to prevent future damage linked to globalization and the commercialization of heritage.
The session, chaired by Her Excellency Mrs. Gayane Umerova, included the UNESCO Director-General, Mr. Khaled Ahmed El-Enani Ali Ezz, as well as numerous representatives of Member States and delegate partners’ organizations, highlighting the growing importance placed on preserving the integrity of the world’s cultural heritage.
Cambodia’s ongoing commitment
Home to the iconic sites of Angkor, Preah Vihear, and Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia reaffirmed in its declaration its firm determination to safeguard World Heritage in all its diversity and authenticity. "Our commitment to protecting and transmitting World Heritage rests on respect for historical truth, human creativity, and international solidarity," concluded the Minister.
This Cambodian initiative comes as several countries and heritage experts advocate updating international legal frameworks in the face of new challenges: commercial museification, digital reproductions generated by artificial intelligence, and abusive reconstructions depriving local communities of control over their cultural heritage (UNESCO, 2024; ICOMOS, 2023).