On the initiative of ALECSO, and in collaboration with the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) and the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, a two-day Regional Forum on “Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Arab Countries in Times of Crisis” was held in Beirut, Lebanon, on June 3-4, 2022. The Forum was attended by representatives of relevant international and regional organizations, along with experts from various Arab countries.
The Forum was an opportunity to showcase the experiences of some Arab countries in terms of cultural heritage protection, especially in times of crisis, as well as the mechanisms of intervention for the preservation of heritage properties and historical monuments.
The Forum stressed the importance of raising awareness, among Arab young generations, of the value of the Arab cultural heritage as an element of identity and a key driver of development. It also underlined the need to leverage Arab and non-Arab expertise toward preserving cultural heritage and making best use of it in the service of sustainable development. Emphasis was also laid on the need to document and protect Arab cultural heritage in anticipation of potential risks, to leverage heritage assets for development purposes, and to promote the legal protection of cultural heritage in the Arab countries.
It is noteworthy that as part of the significant attention it attaches to heritage protection and preservation, ALECSO is implementing a series of training courses in Arab countries in special situations, with the aim of sensitizing young people to the importance of preserving and investing in cultural heritage as a renewable wealth.
