In order to ensure the protection of underwater cultural heritage in international waters, the 2001 UNESCO Convention provides for a pioneering system of international cooperation on the high seas. Following the notification to UNESCO of Italy's discovery of the Skerki Banks site in early 2018, this process is underway and has its first historical application here.

Tunisia, as the coordinating State of this international process, will host the first technical meeting of this international consultation process in Tunis on 10 and 11 June 2019, in order to collectively establish the best way to ensure the effective protection of this underwater cultural heritage site. This consultation meeting, organized in cooperation with the Secretariat of the 2001 UNESCO Convention, will provide an opportunity to collectively discuss measures to protect this site and establish good practices for the management of submerged sites situated in international waters through unprecedented international cooperations.

When: June 10 and 11, 2019

Where: Tunis, Tunisia

Working languages: French

Documents and materials for the Conference: Programme l Information note