ALECSO participates in 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris

ALECSO participates in 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris

The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) is taking part in the 47th  session of the World Heritage Committee, organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria. The event runs from July 6 to 16, 2025 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General, is heading the ALECSO delegation who will undertake a number of activities related to cultural heritage in the Arab world.

In an effort to pool Arab positions and mobilize support for the files and issues on the session’s agenda, ALECSO held a virtual coordination meeting that brought together the representatives of the Arab Group.  

In the same context, Dr. Humaid Al-Nofali, Director of Culture, will chair a consultative meeting with the Arab delegations to discuss ways of enhancing the inscription of Arab sites on the World Heritage List. This meeting is designed to evaluate the nominated heritage sites, monitor their state of conservation, and review requests for assistance submitted by Member States. It also aims to support capacity-building activities and promote coordination with the advisory bodies affiliated with the World Heritage Committee. 

Discussions will focus on ways of providing technical and financial support for heritage sites listed as World Heritage in Danger, particularly those located in areas affected by wars and armed conflicts. This involves support in the preparation of periodic reports on the state of such sites, as a prelude to their removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The ALECSO delegation will also hold coordination meetings to unify positions regarding the files submitted by Member States for inscription on the World Heritage List.

In a related context, ALECSO will publicize the report of the Arab Expert Committee on World Heritage, including the technical reports prepared by specialized experts on the Israeli violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings. This report builds on the outcomes of the 18th meeting of the Arab Expert Committee, held virtually on June 25–26, 2025 under the chairmanship of Kuwait. These efforts are part of ALECSO’s ongoing work to mobilize international support against the occupying authorities’ violations and to submit reports to the relevant international bodies and institutions.