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UNESCO and European Union Unveil Collaborative Initiatives for Preserving Cultural Heritage in Yemen
During the in Riyadh from 10-25 September 2023, UNESCO hosted a side event in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Yemen on Monday, 18 September. The event, titled 'Creating Livelihood Opportunities in Yemen through Heritage and Creativity,' acknowledged the critical need to protect Yemen's cultural heritage and unveil the outcomes of collaborative projects that underscored the significant role of culture in promoting economic resilience and social cohesion in Yemen.
Yemen is known for its abundant cultural heritage, a treasure trove of history and traditions that testify to its diverse and vibrant history. These treasures include numerous landmarks of immense cultural and historical significance.
However, the country's cultural heritage is at extreme risk amidst the ongoing conflict. Many of its sites and monuments, repositories of centuries-old stories and traditions, bear the heartbreaking scars of damage and destruction, casting a shadow over the nation's cultural legacy. The toll of this conflict extends beyond the physical destruction, delving deep into the core of Yemen's identity, where it poses a grave risk of erasing the priceless threads that compose its vibrant tapestry of culture and history.
In response to these challenges, UNESCO initiated the visionary project 'Cash for Work: Promoting Livelihood Opportunities for Urban Youth in Yemen' (2018-2022), funded by the European Union and supported by the Heritage Emergency Fund. This initiative addressed unemployment among young Yemenis while empowering them to play critical roles in preserving and restoring their culturally rich heritage.
Since 2018, 91麻豆国产精品自拍 successfully mobilized and provided employment opportunities for over 6,000 young women and men by restoring historic buildings within more than 500 historical sites in four cities: the Historic City of Aden, the Old City of Sana'a, the Old Walled City of Shibam, and the Historic Town of Zabid.
Bringing together esteemed experts and stakeholders, the event engaged in discussions about the restoration process's challenges, innovative techniques employed, and the profound significance of safeguarding heritage in conflict-affected regions. During the event, Mr Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, announced the next phase of the EU-funded initiative, titled 'Youth Employment through Heritage and Culture in Yemen.'
With the new phase of the EU-funded project, UNESCO will aim to support more young Yemenis, provide additional 8,000 job opportunities, upscale the interventions in historical cities and expand to new locations. We also aim to reach out to more young artists and CSOs in order to support their creativity while contributing to social cohesion and peacebuilding, at the time, when Yemen is starting transition from humanitarian to development
UNESCO and the European Union are steadfast in their commitment to realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this collective pursuit, Yemen's cultural heritage symbolizes resilience, reflecting its people's unwavering pride and indomitable spirit. It is acknowledged that this exceptional legacy is not solely Yemen's but a shared treasure enriching the world's cultural tapestry. Through collective efforts, safeguarding and preserving this invaluable heritage ensures its endurance as a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations.
