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Regional Perspectives | Arab States
The explosion in the port of Beirut, capital of Lebanon, on 4 August not only resulted in the devastating loss of life and damage to vital infrastructure but also damaged sites of cultural heritage and artistic districts. Many regional organizations and international organizations working in the cultural domain expressed their condolences and solidarity with Lebanon. On 11 August, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and several other organizations co-signed a statement of solidarity, whilst the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) also appealed to the international community for support to cultural and heritage institutions. UNESCO convened two emergency coordination meetings, together with several regional and international partners, to support the reconstruction and recovery of Beirut's cultural heritage and cultural life, particularly through its historic heritage buildings, museums, galleries and other infrastructure of the creative economy, as part of the Organization’s initiative "Li Beirut" (For Beirut, in Arabic). Three ResiliArt debates have taken place to spur dialogue on recovery efforts.
ICESCO, in July, convened an international virtual conference on combatting the illicit trafficking in cultural property, with several ministers and experts in the field. The worsening trend in crimes of illicit trafficking in cultural property and the growing e-markets and auctions on social media require developing relevant legislations, conventions, and joint efforts to set the code of ethics to deal with these cultural properties. Egypt offered to host a future conference on the issue.Â
ALECSO held a remote session of the Conference of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage in the Arab World in September, at which the UNESCO Category II Regional Centre for World Heritage (based in the Kingdom of Bahrein) participated. The discussion led to a set of recommendations, including the continuation of capacity-building programmes for rapid intervention teams, developing a crisis plan and establishing a team to coordinate between regional and international heritage organizations. The flooding of a number of historical monuments and archaeological sites in Sudan, also a member of ALECSO, was a reminder of the need for concerted action, and ALECSO offered its full support in tackling the disaster.
ICESCO, in July, convened an international virtual conference on combatting the illicit trafficking in cultural property, with several ministers and experts in the field. The worsening trend in crimes of illicit trafficking in cultural property and the growing e-markets and auctions on social media require developing relevant legislations, conventions, and joint efforts to set the code of ethics to deal with these cultural properties. Egypt offered to host a future conference on the issue.Â
ALECSO held a remote session of the Conference of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage in the Arab World in September, at which the UNESCO Category II Regional Centre for World Heritage (based in the Kingdom of Bahrein) participated. The discussion led to a set of recommendations, including the continuation of capacity-building programmes for rapid intervention teams, developing a crisis plan and establishing a team to coordinate between regional and international heritage organizations. The flooding of a number of historical monuments and archaeological sites in Sudan, also a member of ALECSO, was a reminder of the need for concerted action, and ALECSO offered its full support in tackling the disaster.
2 October 2020
Last update:20 April 2023
