Empowerment of civil society for the protection of cultural heritage in conflict and post-conflict areas

This conference will present the Arab Network of Civil Society Organizations to Safeguard Cultural Heritage (ANSCH) projects concerning safeguarding cultural heritage resources in the Arab region, as well as negotiating  challenges and opportunities facing emerging civil society
organizations (CSOs) in wartime.

Representatives from civil society organizations in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon will participate on the first day of the conference, where they will present their experiences in protecting cultural heritage in conflict areas. On the second day, representatives from organizations in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, and Sudan will share insights into the challenges and opportunities they face in heritage protection efforts, presenting real-life examples and scenarios from their field experience.

Furthermore, Heritage for Peace Organization, represented, will discuss ANSCH’s completed projects, future plans, and ways to support participants. ANSCH also conducted a survey among civil society organizations protecting cultural heritage in conflict-affected Arab countries. The survey assessed their needs, challenges, resources, crisis response capacity, and highlighted their role in heritage protection and community engagement. Key topics included organizational needs, human resources, ongoing projects, cooperation with authorities, and support requirements.

Funding agencies and international heritage organisations in the field of heritage preservation will contribute to the conference by giving support and further recommendation.