By B.NANDIN

At its regular Cabinet meeting held last Wednesday, the Government of Mongolia discussed several agenda items, including the draft law on ratifying the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. In accordance with the Law on the Rules of Procedure of the State Great Khural (Parliament), the Government resolved to submit the draft law to Parliament for consultation and deliberation.

The Convention defines “underwater cultural heritage” as all traces of human existence having cultural, historical, or archaeological character that have been partially or totally under water, either periodically or continuously, for at least 100 years, and which are of significance to the history, culture, or science of humanity. It provides that States Parties shall apply the Convention and its Annex Rules to activities directed at underwater cultural heritage within their internal waters, archipelagic waters, and territorial seas, without prejudice to other international agreements and norms of international law.

Ratification of the Convention would establish an international legal framework for the protection of underwater cultural heritage and create opportunities to enhance methodologies for preservation, restoration, and international cooperation beyond the scope of national legislation.

Currently, 80 States have become parties to the Convention and are actively engaged in the identification, research, preservation, and sustainable use of underwater cultural heritage.

Source: Zuuniimedee № 37 (7779) February 27, 2026

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