Last week the United Nations hosted high level meetings for many of its members and organizations. During this period, President Obama addressed the UN General Assembly. UNESCO also hosted a meeting on heritage. Entitled “Protecting Cultural Heritage: An Imperative for Humanity,” it was organized by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN, the Permanent Mission of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Interpol, UNESCO, and the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). The meeting, attended by the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, was a culmination of the UNESCO meetings held in NYC during this past spring. The event addressed the initiatives taken by UNESCO in furthering the protection of heritage. The speakers highlighted the importance of heritage and its power to unify people and its existence as a non-renewal resource. They also noted the importance of criminalizing heritage destruction, the need to involve young people globally in its protection, and the benefits of fostering respect for humanity’s shared heritage. Other speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration and the exchange of information and expertise amongst law enforcement agencies. I had the honor of attending and contributing comments during the springtime meetings. The materials di
stributed during last week’s assembly noted a topic that I raised during the May meeting– the importance of involving private collectors and the public in these dialogues. It is essential to develop public-private partnerships in order to further UNESCO’s mission, educate the public, and raise awareness in “civil society.”
stributed during last week’s assembly noted a topic that I raised during the May meeting– the importance of involving private collectors and the public in these dialogues. It is essential to develop public-private partnerships in order to further UNESCO’s mission, educate the public, and raise awareness in “civil society.” Following the meeting, some of the participants attended “Heroes of the Global Campaign to Prevent and Overcome Violent Extremism,” hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was honored to receive an invitation from UNESCO. It was a wonderful evening celebrating the contributions of people dedicating their lives to the preservation of cultural heritage, and the fight against extremism and persecution of religious minorities.
To read more about UNESCO’s work in heritage protection, please visit their website.