Jurisprudence studies and cultural law

Jurisprudence studies and cultural law

Legal Semantics of the conceptual scope of "Common Heritage of Mankind" in international documents and its implications for cultural rights

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
علی مشهدی 1
Azar Givkay 2
1 Professor, Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran. Email: Droitenviro@gmail.com
2 PhD in Public Internnational Law, Qom Azad University, Qom. Iran. (Corresponding Author). Email: azarg1359@gmail.com
10.22034/cjls.2026.2089844.1100
Abstract
The common heritage of humanity has been proposed as a concept to protect human rights and high human values, and in human rights literature, it is discussed within the rights of solidarity or collective rights. This concept has been mentioned and defined in various international documents, including conventions and declarations; including documents related to the law of the seas, outer space, international environmental law, cultural diversity, the human genome, and the like. Despite the establishment of this principle in international documents, there are still ambiguities and deep disagreements about its content, limits, and practical application. This article attempts to explain the conceptual scope in question by examining international legal texts and documents that have included references to the concept of common heritage of humanity and examine the elements of common heritage of humanity in different areas of law. The basic question of this article is: to what extent has the concept of "common heritage of humanity" been proposed and developed in international legal texts and documents? The basic assumption of this article is based on the fact that in various texts and documents and areas of international law, the conceptual scope and understanding of the concept of common heritage of humanity are presented in almost the same way.
Keywords
Common Heritage of Humankind
Legal Semantics
Cultural Diversity
International Instruments
Cultural Rights
 
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Jurisprudence studies and cultural law
Volume 3, Issue 1
June 2026
Pages 11-20