A/RES/56/8 Taking into consideration the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2002, 1. Proclaims 2002 as the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage; 2. Invites the United Nations Educational, Organization to serve as the lead agency for the year; Scientific and Cultural 3. Also invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in collaboration with States, observers, relevant United Nations bodies, within their respective mandates, other international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, to intensify the implementation of programmes, activities and projects aimed at the promotion and protection of the world cultural heritage; 4. Invites Member States and observers to promote education and raise public awareness to foster respect for the national and world cultural heritage; 5. Calls upon Member States, observers, national and international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to make voluntary contributions to finance and support activities aimed at the promotion and protection of the national and world cultural heritage, including relevant activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 6. Decides to devote one session of the General Assembly, United Nations Year for Cultural observers to be represented in those day of plenary meetings at the fifty-seventh on 4 December 2002, to mark the end of the Heritage, and encourages Member States and meetings at the highest level possible; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the activities carried out during the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session an item entitled “United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage”. 61st plenary meeting 21 November 2001 2