site.btaUNESCO Closely Monitors Damage to Cultural Heritage Caused by Armed Conflicts, Says Director-General Azoulay

UNESCO is actively monitoring damage to cultural heritage caused by armed conflicts, said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, in her speech at the opening of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization, which is being chaired by Bulgaria.

The opening took place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on Monday.

Azoulay noted that, with the help of satellite imagery provided by partners, UNESCO is closely tracking damage caused since October 2023. Affected sites are located in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, and other regions.

In Ukraine, over 500 sites have been damaged since 2022, and emergency assistance is being provided for their protection. In Africa, sites such as Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are facing severe threats due to conflict, illegal activity, and environmental pressure, she noted.

“Our mission continues through cultural memory projects, which honour history and contribute to humanity’s future. I deeply believe in the need for cooperation among committee members, state representatives, partner organizations, and the international community to achieve our shared goals,” Azoulay said.

She stressed that one of UNESCO’s core priorities is supporting African heritage. The organization has taken concrete steps to encourage nominations from African states, including capacity-building programmes for young professionals and online training tools. UNESCO is also working closely with five universities in Cameroon, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania to develop higher education in the field of heritage. New nominations have already been submitted from Sub-Saharan countries, with more expected in 2026, Azoulay added.

“Heritage plays a crucial role during and after conflict. It can serve as a tool for peacebuilding and restoring the social fabric. We have seen this in Mosul, Aleppo and Damascus. We are proud to announce that our actions in Syria have contributed to the restoration of the National Museum in Damascus, as well as the safeguarding of sites in Aleppo’s old city,” she concluded.

The 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, runs until July 16 at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris under the presidency of Bulgaria. As part of the session, Bulgaria will present elements of its cultural and natural heritage. Later Monday, the July issue of LIK magazine – dedicated to Bulgaria and UNESCO – will also be officially presented at UNESCO.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on November 16, 1945. Bulgaria became a member on May 17, 1956, the same year its National Commission for UNESCO was established. The Commission coordinates activities between Bulgarian institutions and UNESCO.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee is one of the two governing bodies responsible for implementing the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It is composed of representatives from 21 countries elected from among the 196 States Parties to the Convention.