2nd International Conference on the “Role and responsibility of Local and Subnational Governments for the Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage”
The celebration of the International Day of Monuments and Sites for World Cultural Heritage will take place on April 18, 2019. United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), through its African Local Government Academy (ALGA), the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the City of Rabat, in partnership and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Ministry of National Spatial Planning, Town Planning, Housing and Urban Policy, ICOMOS-Morocco, UNESCO and the Italian Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco, will organize the 2nd International Conference under the theme: “The Role and Responsibility of Local and Subnational Governments in the Preservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage.”
The celebration will take place over two days with Thursday April 18, 2019, to be held at the ISESCO Headquarters and Friday, April 19, 2019 to be held at the Headquarters of the City Council of Rabat (Morocco).
The organization of this 2nd International Conference is supported by ISESCO’s proclamation that 2019 is the “Year of Heritage in the Islamic World.”
The theme, ” The role and responsibility of local and subnational governments in the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage,” will be a longstanding one. In the wake of the 2018 Conference, which focused on “Protecting Cultural Heritage through Participatory and Inclusive Governance” this is in support of the implementation of Target 11.4 of SDG 11 (Strengthen efforts to protect and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.” Local and subnational governments have become key players in this field, because of the roles and responsibilities that are transferred to them by the national governments, and the preservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage is part of a context that is becoming increasingly multi-actor with multi-levels of governance.
The main goal of the conference is to bring to the table all the actors and stakeholders concerned or involved in the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage and to create a roadmap allowing each actor and each stakeholder to grasp the importance of its role and the extent of its responsibilities throughout the chain of custody and enhancement of cultural heritage.
Cultural Heritage constitutes a fundamental lever of human life which participates not only in the promotion of peace, balance, continuity and harmony in human societies, but, when it is well protected and well valued, it is also a lever for promoting sustained, shared and sustainable economic growth, Sustainable Development Goal # 8, whose Target 8.9 aims to, “develop and implement policies to develop sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products,” by 2030.
The opening of the conference will be officially made by representatives of ISESCO; the Ministry of Culture and Communication; UN-Women; ICOMOS-Morocco; the Communal Council of Rabat; and UCLG Africa.
More than one hundred participants are expected at this important meeting, including: representatives of international organizations (UNESCO, ISESCO, ICOMOS), the ministerial departments responsible and/or involved in the governance and management of Cultural Heritage, Associations of Local and Subnational Governments in Africa and the Arab and Muslim World, as well as components of Civil Society and other participants.
The Conference will be an opportunity to highlight the best practice of some African cities in the protection and promotion of their Cultural Heritage, including: Bobo-Dioulasso Town, Burkina Faso, Praia Town (Cabo Verde), the Commune of Abobo (Côte d’Ivoire), the City of Bamako (Mali), the cities of El Jadida, Azemmour and Marrakech, (Morocco), Cities of Mauritania, the City of Lagos (Nigeria) and the City of La Goulette, Tunisia. The Conference will also be marked by the presentation of the experiences of the Arab world, including Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Mauritania.
Participants will address the theme from 5 main perspectives:
1) What is the context and what are the current challenges of preserving, protecting and enhancing Cultural Heritage?
2) What is the mapping for the main actors and stakeholders in the dynamics of preservation, protection and enhancement of cultural heritage?
3) What are the roles and responsibilities of local and subnational governments in the management, preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage?
4) What tools and strategies exist for local and regional authorities for the management, preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage?
5) What are the main pillars for a possible roadmap targeting the local level?
The national and international media based in Morocco are invited to cover the proceedings of the International Conference on Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 09:00 am at the ISESCO Headquarters (Avenue des FAR, Hay Ryad – Madinat Al Irfane) and Friday, April 19, 2019 at 9:00 am at the Headquarters of the Municipal Council of the City of Rabat, Avenue Mohamed Belhassan El Ouazzani, Takkadoum.
Participants will finally have the opportunity to visit the jewels of the City of Rabat, a city that has made Cultural Heritage a strategic axis and a development lever for its progress and sustainable development.
About:
ISESCO: The Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) was established in May 1979 by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Its headquarters are based in Rabat (Morocco). Website: http://www.isesco.org.ma
UCLG Africa: is the umbrella organization of the local governments of Africa whose founding congress took place in the city of Tshwane, South Africa, in May 2005. UCLG Africa has had its headquarters in the city of Rabat (Morocco) since January 2008. It is the African chapter of the world organization United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Website: www.uclga.org
For more information, please contact:
Gaëlle Yomi: Phone: + 212 610 56 71 45
e-mail: gyomi@uclga.org
The Press release is available here in PDF.
