Protecting cultural heritage from the risk of conflict

On March 16, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova called on partners including governments, civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations to protect human cultural heritage in countries experiencing major political turmoil in the Middle East such as Egypt, Tunisia and Libya.

The Director-General of UNESCO has convened an emergency meeting of a group of experts and individuals in the field of preserving human cultural heritage to find solutions to ensure the safety of cultural heritages in the face of the risk of conflict.

Pyramids in Egypt. Source: Internet

She emphasized that UNESCO has been warned about the risk of heritage being violated, destroyed, and stolen from museums and relic sites; at the same time, she affirmed that UNESCO and its partners are committed to strongly supporting countries experiencing political turmoil to protect cultural heritage.

UNESCO will send teams of experts to Egypt, Tunisia and Libya to work with the authorities of these countries to assess the need for assistance, prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage and develop comprehensive medium- and long-term action plans; in which to send a message to the young generation of these countries emphasizing that cultural heritage is linked to their national identity and is also a powerful factor in promoting democracy and enhancing intercultural exchange.

Ms. Bokova said UNESCO will closely coordinate with organizations such as the International Center for the Study of the Maintenance and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM), the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the World Monuments Fund (WMF), the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to protect the world's cultural heritage.

According to VNA