Vittorino Veronese was an Italian anti-fascist lawyer and activist who served as UNESCO’s Director-General from 1958 to 1961. Before his appointment as UNESCO’s Director-General he served as Chairman of the Catholic Institute for Social Activity and of Azione Cattolica. From 1952 to 1956 he served on UNESCO’s board and was UNESCO’s chairperson from 1956 to 1958. Three years after the appointment as the Director-General, Veronese had to resign due to health concerns.
André Malraux (left) with Veronese at UNESCO, International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia
International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia
The International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia was the relocation of 22 monuments in Lower Nubia, in Southern Egypt and northern Sudan, between 1960 and 1980. This was done in order to make way for the building of the Aswan Dam, at the Nile's first cataract which was a necessary infrastructure project following the 1952 Egyptian Revolution. This project was undertaken under UNESCO leadership and a coalition of 50 countries. This process led to the creation of the World Heritage Convention in 1972, and thus the system of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
UNESCO brochure on the anniversary of the campaign
The statue of Ramses the Great at the Great Temple of Abu Simbel is reassembled after having been moved in 1967 to save it from flooding.
Image: Ramsis, Aswan Governorate, Egypt panoramio
Image: Tempel Amada 008
