Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow Biography and Timeline

New Director General Takes Office

Amadou Mahtar M'Bow became UNESCO Director General and led the organisation through debates about global educational and information inequalities.

World Heritage Convention Enters Force

The World Heritage Convention entered into force and provided the legal framework for identifying and protecting sites of outstanding universal value.

World Heritage Committee Established

The first World Heritage Committee was established under the convention to oversee the international system for heritage designation.

First World Heritage Committee Session

The World Heritage Committee met for the first time as the new international listing and conservation process took shape.

First World Heritage Sites Listed

UNESCO inscribed the first World Heritage properties, establishing the initial international list of outstanding cultural and natural sites.

Nubian Campaign Committee Reorganised

UNESCO reorganised the campaign's Executive Committee as international efforts focused on completing the final relocation operations.

Nubian Monuments Heritage Inscription

The Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae were inscribed on the World Heritage List, recognising their exceptional archaeological importance.

Nubian World Heritage Inscription

UNESCO inscribed the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae as a World Heritage property in recognition of their outstanding significance.

Completion of Nubian Campaign

M'Bow marks completion of the twenty-year international campaign to save Nubian monuments.

Role range: 1974-1987

Nubian Rescue Campaign Concludes

UNESCO formally concluded the international campaign that had saved numerous Nubian monuments from flooding.

International Nubian Rescue Campaign Ends

UNESCO formally concluded its twenty year international campaign to save Nubian archaeological sites and relocate outstanding monuments.

Nubia Museum Campaign

UNESCO launches a follow-up campaign supporting creation of a Nubia Museum in Aswan.

Role range: 1974-1987

Nubia Museum Campaign Established

UNESCO launched a follow up campaign to establish the Nubia Museum in Aswan and a national museum of Egyptian civilisation in Cairo.

International Nubia Museum Campaign

UNESCO launched an international campaign supporting the creation of the Nubia Museum in Aswan and a separate museum of Egyptian civilisation in Cairo.

Museum Partnership Structure Established

The museum initiative brought together Egyptian antiquities professionals university specialists and UNESCO to plan protection and interpretation of Nubian heritage.

Nubian Archaeology Museum Followup

UNESCO launched a follow up campaign for a museum in Aswan intended to interpret artefacts and knowledge preserved by the monument rescue effort.