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Human Rights-Based Approaches to World Heritage Conservation in Bagan, Myanmar: Conceptual, Political, and Practical Considerations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2018

Anne-Laura Kraak
Anne-Laura Kraak*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia; Email: alkraak@gmail.com
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Abstract:

This article considers the role of recently adopted human rights-based policies in the context of preparations for the world heritage nomination of Bagan in Myanmar. Several conceptual, political, and practical factors influence the way in which such policies can be implemented. Conceptually, conflicting interpretations of the meaning of certain categories of human rights—most notably, cultural, development, and land rights—create ambiguity about who has rights to what. Politically, multilateral and bilateral negotiations between states parties inform whether and how human rights-based policies are enforced. On a practical level, implementation of such policies may be challenged by the low legal and administrative capacity of the state of Myanmar. Taking account of these factors, it is argued that human rights-based approaches can provide certain valuable insights but remain subject to serious limitations.

Type
Article
Information
International Journal of Cultural Property , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , February 2018 , pp. 111 - 133
Copyright
Copyright © International Cultural Property Society 2018 

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References

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