25 June 2018
The World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2018 Has Come an End
UNESCO Village hosted, on 25 June 2018, the closing ceremony of the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2018, in the presence of H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA), Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Mr Ernesto Ottone Ramírez , UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, as well as young participants and journalists.
During the closing speech ceremony, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa said “ I am honored to be here today; we’ve seen the wonderful job and the extraordinary constructive work you’ve done last week in enhancing world heritage knowledge and expertise”. H.E added “ In the Kingdom of Bahrain, we encourage and we empower youth to participate in cultural achievements in order to preserve and safeguard the national identity. Thus, Ta’a la Shabab’s Festival, for example, is still embracing young talented people’s efforts with regard to culture activities for years now”. H.E also thanked all those who contributed, directly or indirectly, to the success of this forum, expressing her wish to see them again coming back to Bahrain, the citadel of culture, regionally and internationally.
Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas, for her part, also expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the participants at the Young Professionals Forum 2018 for their commitment and belief in heritage preservation and safeguard, arguing that their wonderful work opens doors for fruitful cooperation and common objectives with regard to world heritage protection. H.R.H added that young people are increasingly getting involved in heritage safeguard, affirming that their recommendations during the inaugural session of the 42nd meeting of the World Heritage Committee, which centred around climate change, technological development and social change related to globalisation, will be at the center of attention.
Mr Ernesto Ottone Ramírez also expressed his sincere appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to H.E Shaikha Main Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa for her strenuous efforts to make this event an exceptional success. Mr. Ramírez addressed the participants and everyone else everyone for bringing their expertise and experience around the table and engaging the values of World Heritage, highlighting the potential that World Heritage education may have for facilitating sustainable development. It is addressed to young professionals who will be invited to reflect upon the complexity of preserving heritage in a constantly evolving world, with the help of international experts. Mr. Ramírez argued that their youths’ recommendations at the end of the Forum, a declaration to convey the message of the young professionals to the international community will be produced and presented to the World Heritage Committee. These efforts of younger lovers of heritage safeguard will certainly yield fruitful results and answer their needs and future aspirations, he concluded.
During the Forum, the participants exchanged their ideas, concerns as well as the opportunities to ensure the sustainability of World Heritage in an ever-changing world. They presented the results of their work in the form of a Declaration on 25 June at the 42nd session of the Committee. In the Declaration, they particularly recognized that the involvement of the youth and local communities is vital for the sustainability of the Convention and successful long-term conservation of heritage. The Forum also shed lights on many challenging issues and explained how World Heritage faces threats and challenges which raise the question: how can we contribute to a sustainable protection, preservation and conservation for heritage in an ever-changing world? and they participated in experts’ presentations on historical changes which could affects heritage, climate change, sustainable development, the role of technology, and on the future of the Convention.
Worth to mention that the Forum that runs as far as June 26, aims to transmit the values of World Heritage, highlighting the potential that World Heritage education may have for facilitating sustainable development.The scientific programme is developed in cooperation with Non-Governmental Organization Diadrasis. The forum had already received more than 990 worldwide applications, but only 30 experts will be participate in this event aimed at conveying an important message with regard to world heritage values, shedding lights on the potential possibilities provided by world heritage to support sustainable development. The forum is being held on the sidelines of the 42nd meeting of the World Heritage Committee, hosted by hosted by Manama and held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa , May God Protect Him. The meeting, to be held in Manama from 24-June-4 July, is the second most important event of UNESCO after the General Assembly.
