Doha: Qatar National Library (QNL) is set to organize the 4th Doha Conference on Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property – Crisis Preparedness and Cultural Heritage Protection: Prevention to Recovery, commencing on Sunday.
According to Qatar News Agency, the four-day conference, continuing until September 24, is a collaborative effort with UNESCO’s Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, and the Embassies of the United States, France, and Italy in Doha. This year’s conference is a part of QNL’s Himaya program, focusing on the increasing challenges faced by cultural heritage in the region.
The event aims to be a pivotal platform for bolstering institutional readiness and enhancing both regional and international cooperation through all phases of crises. It will delve into several critical issues including global challenges and the impact of legal and ethical frameworks, governance of cultural heritage amid crises and illicit trafficking, and pre-crisis strategies such as risk assessment and preventive documentation.
Additionally, the conference will explore crisis response measures, including cultural first aid and damage documentation, as well as international cooperation. Post-crisis recovery topics will cover the restitution of looted property and the role of museums, archives, and libraries. The event will feature case studies and successful experiences from the Arab world and beyond.