Promoted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the initiative has the approval of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); it raises awareness about the vulnerability and efforts required for protection and conservation.

Each year, the organizer of the IDMS proposes a theme for activities to be organized by its members, partners, and society in general.

The 2024 theme is “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage – Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.”

Globally, to commemorate the date, several initiatives are in place, such as visits to monuments, debates and roundtable discussions, open days, keynote speeches, and events at heritage sites.

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