Rabat, July 5 (BNA): In an effort to enhance the role of civil society institutions in promoting and protecting cultural heritage, exchanging experiences in this field, and addressing its issues from a global perspective, the Islamic world of education, science and culture. ISESCO and the Association of Memoirs of Rabat-Salé organized a symposium on “The Role of Civil Society in Cultural Heritage Policy”.
ISESCO said on its website that the event witnessed a high-level participation that included officials and experts in the field of heritage and a large number of heritage protection associations in the Kingdom of Morocco and other Arab and African countries.
This symposium was held at ISESCO headquarters here today, within the framework of the celebration of Rabat as the capital of culture in the Islamic world for 2022. The symposium reflects ISESCO’s vision and strategy for its work in the field of safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage. The Islamic world through openness and cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States and civil society institutions concerned with the protection of the tangible and intangible heritage.
Dr. Salem Malik, Director-General of ISESCO, addressed the participants in the opening session, and noted that civil society is an essential component in the effective planning and implementation of heritage protection activities, given its functional capabilities to support governmental authorities. in this field. He added that guided by international standards, ISESCO pays special attention to building the capacities of professionals working in various fields of cultural heritage.
In addition, the Director General announced that ISESCO will soon issue a set of textbooks and guides on various forms of heritage and ways to deal with them, indicating that ISESCO is working on developing university heritage curricula and training programs, in cooperation with active civil society institutions. in the field of heritage.
In his speech, Mr. Mohamed Fikri Benabdallah, President of the Rabat-Salé Memorial Association, expressed his happiness at the fruitful partnership between the association and ISESCO, noting that the urban heritage is key in light of the rapidly changing international context. He also praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco to promote heritage.
Mr. Mohamed Mahdi bin Said, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, highlighted the importance of the event, stressing Rabat’s position as a city of coexistence between different cultures.
After that, Mr. Abdel Karim Bennani, President of the Ribat Al-Fath Association, spoke about the role of civil society in highlighting the shortcomings in dealing with historical and cultural landmarks and intellectual production, stressing the need to adopt a participatory vision. that engages all stakeholders in heritage protection.
As for Mr. Noureddine Chamao, President of the Bouregreg Association, he highlighted the role of civil society in promoting cultural heritage and spoke about his association’s efforts to preserve heritage and enhance its cultural components, stressing the importance of strengthening cultural heritage industries.
At the conclusion of the opening session, a framework agreement was signed between ISESCO and the Rabat-Salé Memorial Association for cooperation in the field of heritage.
The first session of the symposium discussed the role of civil society in the Kingdom of Morocco in promoting cultural heritage, while the second session focused on pioneering experiences in promoting cultural heritage in the Islamic world.
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