UNESCO is the organization headquartered in Paris that protects World Heritage sites.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was established in 1945 after the Second World War. Its constitution emphasizes building peace through education, science, culture, and communication. UNESCO’s headquarters are in the Place de Fontenoy in Paris.
The World Heritage Convention, adopted in 1972, created a system for identifying cultural and natural sites considered to have outstanding universal value. The World Heritage List includes places such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Galápagos Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO also supports programs involving education, biosphere reserves, and endangered languages.
UNESCO does not own or directly administer every listed site. Responsibility for conservation generally remains with the country where the site is located. UNESCO is also distinct from UNICEF, which focuses primarily on children, and the World Health Organization, which coordinates international public health.