Join us for EMBCA’s “Protection of World Heritage Sites/Cultural Property in Armed Conflict Zones” Webinar Panel Discussion on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 2 P.M. EST / 9 P.M. Athens/Beirut EEST. The event will be introduced by EMBCA President Lou Katsos and co-moderated with author and EMBCA Director Joanne Keratsou Sayad. The distinguished panel includes Dima Rifai Chargee de Mission at UNESCO; Dr. Brian I. Daniels the Director of Research and Programs for the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania Museum; and Georges S. Zouain, PhD Head of Faculty at GAIA-heritage.

The destruction of cultural heritage in conflict zones threatens humanity’s shared legacy, often used as a tactic to erase history and demoralize communities. Legal frameworks like the 1954 Hague Convention and UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention aim to protect heritage sites, yet enforcement remains a challenge, as seen in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Efforts to safeguard cultural property increasingly rely on technology, such as satellite monitoring and digital archiving, alongside initiatives like UNESCO’s Blue Shield Program, which trains military forces to recognize and protect heritage sites. Beyond legal and technical measures, global awareness and post-conflict restoration are essential to preserving cultural identity and historical continuity.

This panel will explore the ongoing challenges, innovations, and collaborative efforts necessary to protect cultural heritage in war-torn regions, ensuring its survival for future generations.

EMBCA is an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Internal Revenue (IRC) Section 501(c)(3), classified as a public charity, and qualifies to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522 . Donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170. Thank you all again for your continuing enthusiasm and support of our events !!