Europa Nostra joins ALIPH International Conference “Protecting Heritage: From Crisis to Peace” in Geneva

Europa Nostra participated in the International Conference “Protecting Heritage: From Crisis to Peace”, held on 6-7 May 2025 at Villa Barton in Geneva, Switzerland. Organised by ALIPH – International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, the event aimed to strengthen the recognition of cultural heritage as a crucial element in crisis response, peacebuilding and sustainable development.

 

The conference brought together over 200 professionals from the fields of cultural heritage, humanitarian aid and development cooperation, as well as government officials and civil society representatives. Europa Nostra was represented by its Advocacy and Partnerships Manager, Vanessa Fraga Prol.

At a time when cultural heritage is increasingly threatened by armed conflict, the climate crisis, and both natural and human-induced disasters – including in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Yemen and Myanmar – the conference issued a timely and urgent call for cultural heritage to be more effectively integrated into both emergency interventions and long-term recovery strategies.

 

Throughout the two-day programme, participants exchanged valuable insights and case studies from crisis and post-crisis contexts across the globe. Among them were the coordinated civil-military and civil society response in Lebanon following the 2020 Beirut port explosion; the rapid deployment of emergency protection measures in Gaza, led by local heritage professionals and NGOs; and Ukraine’s national strategy to safeguard its cultural heritage amidst the ongoing war. Experiences from Cyprus also demonstrated how shared cultural assets can foster dialogue and serve as a bridge for reconciliation between divided communities.

 

Discussions at the conference consistently underscored the vital role of civil society, inclusive governance and human rights in the protection of cultural heritage. Speakers highlighted the need for more inclusive forms of multilateralism that actively involve local authorities and non-state actors. There was a strong call for robust legal frameworks, including the integration of cultural property into military protocols and humanitarian mandates, as well as for improved risk preparedness. Participants emphasised that communities must be empowered to lead heritage protection efforts, recognising that people themselves are the true carriers of heritage.

Across sessions, it became clear that safeguarding heritage is not merely about protecting monuments or artefacts, but also about defending the cultural rights, identities and dignity of affected populations.

 

“Restoring a monument also means rebuilding livelihoods, networks and histories: it is laying the foundations for a society of dialogue and lasting peace,” said Bariza Khiari, Chair of the ALIPH Foundation Board.

“We all still work too much in our own silos, which may still exist between the military and the cultural sectors, between humanitarian and development aid, between public and private, between the United Nations and NGOs. We need to coordinate better, share networks better and pool information and resources better in the field,” added Valéry Freland, Executive Director of ALIPH.

 

“Local actors – particularly women – provide critical access to heritage and operational capacity. We, men, have a lot to learn from the concrete, pragmatic and courageous way in which women mobilise in favour of threatened heritage in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon and Syria, among many others,” he emphasised.

Europa Nostra remains deeply committed to engaging in international efforts to protect cultural heritage in times of crisis and to ensuring that its value as a foundation for peace, identity and recovery is fully recognised and supported. Europa Nostra’s participation in the Geneva conference builds on its long-standing and dynamic partnership with ALIPH. This collaboration was reinforced through two agreements signed by Europa Nostra and ALIPH in November 2023 on the occasion of Europa Nostra’s 60th anniversary.

The International Conference “Protecting Heritage: From Crisis to Peace” was organised by ALIPH with the support of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) of the Swiss Confederation.

On the eve of the conference, ALIPH inaugurated the photo exhibition “Portraits of Women – Beyond the Stones” at the Rotonde du Mont-Blanc. Open to the public until 1 June, the exhibition pays tribute to the courageous and vital work of women cultural heritage professionals operating in conflict zones. Through compelling photography, the exhibition highlights the human stories behind heritage protection and the pivotal role these women play in fostering resilience within their communities.

 

To find out more

Information about the conference
Photos of the conference
Videos of the conference