Arab World Heritage Young Professionals Forum begins

The Arab World Heritage Young Professionals Forum “empowering youth to build peace through the protection and preservation of heritage” starts today!

The Forum was opened by H. E. Mr Mohamed Zinelabidine, Minister of Cultural Affairs of Tunisia, Dr Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO; Dr Mechtild Rössler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; H. E. Ms Élaine Ayotte, Ambassador of Canada to UNESCO and Mr Adel Elsayed Sparr, Head of the Youth Engagement Unit, UNOCT/UNCCT and provided an excellent opportunity for cross sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation among different institutions and organisations. 

Thirty-two participants from the Arab States region gathered in Tunis from 2 to 6 December 2019 in Tunis, Tunisia, to be engaged in their critical roles as global citizens towards peacebuilding, through the protection, preservation and promotion of World Heritage.

The Forum will enable the young professionals to exchange on the challenges faced in Arab States in relation to heritage and discuss how culture can be leveraged to contribute to a future of peace for the region. They will have the opportunity to build a peer network of like-minded individuals committed to this common goal and will be encouraged to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the Forum in their respective communities and countries.

The Arab World Heritage Young Professionals Forum is organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, under the World Heritage Education Programme, within the framework of the UNESCO/UNOCT project on the Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) through Youth Empowerment in Jordan, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia, co-funded by Canada. It is organized in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).