On 1st June 2017, Ambassador Satu Mattila-Budich of the Permanent Representation of Finland to the Council of Europe signed the Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, bringing the total number of signatures to 6, with 17 ratifications.

This Convention (known as the “Faro Convention”), is based on the idea that knowledge and use of heritage form part of the citizen’s right to participate in cultural life as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The text presents heritage both as a resource for human development, the enhancement of cultural diversity and the promotion of intercultural dialogue, and as part of an economic development model based on the principles of sustainable resource use.

The Faro Convention Action Plan is designed to translate the Faro Convention principles into practice.