The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, held a virtual symposium to explore “the promotion of cultural institutions’ action and the preservation of cultural heritage in Palestine during and after Covid-19”, with the participation of several experts and specialists of cultural heritage and the management of cultural institutions to develop the plans and strategies likely to ensure the sustainable access to the right to culture during and after this health crisis.

The symposium, held yesterday via videoconferencing, was watched mainly through the live streaming on ICESCO page on Facebook. The seminar made several recommendations that praised the role of government cultural institutions in sustaining cultural resilience and preserving and publicizing the Palestinian identity despite its difficult situation before and during Covid-19.

This event also called for incorporating the protection of Al-Quds’ heritage within the partnership to be signed with the World Heritage Center and the Islamic World Heritage Center, recently established by ICESCO, to join and coordinate the relevant efforts; and preparing a new strategic plan along with its implementation mechanisms to protect the Palestinian heritage, particularly the heritage of Al-Quds and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Besides, the participants urged the staff working in the Palestinian cultural field to capitalize on modern technologies and social media to ensure the sustainability of cultural action and benefit all the social groups.

Moreover, they underscored the key role of ICESCO in preserving Al-Quds’ heritage, hailed the decision of establishing a special unit for Al-Quds’ heritage within the Islamic World Heritage Center, and called upon the Organization to schedule more activities to support institutions and protect the cultural heritage in Palestine in general, and in Al-Quds Al-Sharif in particular, through the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.