Mission statement and objectives

MISSION STATEMENT

Heritage for Peace is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support all countries in conflict in their efforts to protect and safeguard cultural heritage during armed conflict. As an international group of heritage workers we believe that cultural heritage, and the protection thereof, can be used as a common ground for dialogue and therefore as a tool to enhance peace.

Heritage for Peace’s unique mission revolves around the protection of cultural heritage in zones of conflict. Our organization engages its staff’s local knowledge and previous expertise in conflict situations to promote capacity-building and knowledge transfer in order to create self-sufficiency in heritage management among heritage workers and local communities. As a neutral NGO unaffiliated with any government, Heritage for Peace is in a unique position to work with all parties in the conflict and reach all parts of the country with its programmes.

Heritage for Peace differs from other heritage organizations. While we can work with all parties, governmental and intergovernmental organizations can only work with heritage authorities that are supported by the recognized state authority, and with whom there are existing diplomatic relations. International professional heritage organizations can only support those heritage organizations that are a member of their professional organization, and many are constrained to work only with departments of the formally recognized government.

OBJECTIVES

Our objectives are:

  • To promote the safeguarding and protection of cultural heritage in zones of conflict.
  • To promote a bottom-up approach to cultural heritage protection, conservation and restoration that increases community engagement and local agency.
  • To develop, maintain and support a wide network of contacts and volunteers dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage through effective practices.
  • To liaise between heritage workers operating during a violent conflict and the international heritage community.

PARTNERS

Heritage for Peace is kindly supported by:

  • Centre for International Heritage Activities (CIE), Leiden, the Netherlands.
  • University of Amsterdam, Department of Heritage Collections, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – CSIC),
  • Institucion Mila y Fontanals (IMF), Barcelona, Spain
  • Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Campus per la Pau, Barcelona, Spain
  • Amis d’UNESCO a Catalunya, Girona, Spain
  • Syrian Heritage Archive Project, Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin, Germany.
PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS UNDER REDEVELOPMENT

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