UNESCO REGIONAL CONFERENCE Cultural Heritage and Identity

This UNESCO initiative aims at supporting youth engagement in cultural heritage protection and peacebuilding in the Arab region. In UNESCO’s view, the notion of cultural heritage includes both tangible and intangible elements that represent a unique set of resources for the promotion of respect, intellectual curiosity regarding others, open identities, and mutual understanding among peoples. “It is through culture that man creates works through which he transcends his limitations”, stipulates the above-mentioned Declaration. In addition, with 80 World Heritage sites, the Arab region is a unique field of education, sensitization, intercultural dialogues, and innovation for young entrepreneurs. Yet, at a time of pervading violent discourses that justify the destruction of cultural heritage in the name of certain ideologies, it is crucial to promote a critical approach to culture, emphasizing their universal value and the continuous creativity, that characterizes all cultures.