In collaboration with the
International Astronomical Union

Outstanding Universal Value

The roof of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy, with sunl

The roof of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy, with sunlight entering through the oculus. Photograph © Giulio Magli

Outstanding Universal Value is the term of recognition for the value properties need to manifest in order to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

According to the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, “Outstanding Universal Value means cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity. As such, the permanent protection of this heritage is of the highest importance to the international community as a whole.”

See also:

The World Heritage List: What is OUV? by Jukka Jokilehto, Christina Cameron, Michel Parent and Michael Petzet, Hendrik Bäßler Verlag, Berlin, 2008 (ICOMOS Monuments and Sites XVI)