Protection of heritage sites important for all mankind
The destruction of many historic sites as a result of the Second World War prompted states to sign, in 1954, the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict — the first ever treaty to prohibit acts of hostility against historic monuments. And though this would not be the last agreement to condemn the destruction of heritage sites around the world, such treaties have unfortunately not stopped these acts during armed conflict, urbanization and other man-made disasters.
Those of us old enough to remember the reign of the Taliban in Afghanistan
(or have read Khaled Hosseini’s novel “A Thousand Splendid Suns”) will recall with heart-wrenching sadness the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, once the tallest monuments to Buddha in the world. In 2001, the Taliban destroyed the statues; the demolition was a massive loss not just for the Buddhist community, but for generations to come all over the world. More recently, the Temple of Bel, a major religious site in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, was leveled by Daesh. However, war and conflict are not the only causes of the destruction of historic monuments. All over the world, such sites have been demolished to make way for modernization and urban development, or as a result of natural or man-made disasters.
In the UAE, Al-Fahidi Historical Neighborhood (formerly known as Al-Bastakiya), which dates back to the 1890s, was once made up of 60 houses separated by narrow, winding lanes. This landmark was partially demolished in the 1980s to make way for the development of a new office complex.
In the Philippines, the earthquake that jolted the central Visayas islands in 2013 not only resulted in the loss of many lives, but also in the destruction of some significant landmarks, including 10 churches dating back to the Spanish colonial era.
Still, individuals, civil society and governments have taken significant measures to preserve such sites around the world. In
2005, Dubai Municipality initiated a project to restore old buildings and lanes in what is known as “Old Dubai.” The result is the astonishing, vibrant and culturally rich Al-Fahidi Historic Neighborhood, where modern art and a multicultural past collide. When Paris’s 12th century Notre-Dame Cathedral caught fire last year, more than €1 billion ($1.08 billion) was pledged by individuals and corporations for its restoration.
Growing awareness of the importance of preserving heritage sites has become the responsibility of civil society groups all over the world, and is not limited to those in the host country.
As of last July, there were 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 167 countries. When it comes to these sites, notions of political borders and national identities become irrelevant. To be human is not a matter of blood or genes, but rather a matter of creativity, art and the unique ability to create beautiful things that stand tall for centuries. According to the UN, these sites are “of outstanding cultural importance to the common heritage of humanity.” Their preservation and protection is important for the whole of mankind, as they are part of our collective history. We must remind ourselves that, with every loss of part of our common heritage, we are all that much poorer.