Humanity's Shared Heritage at Risk  -   التراث المشترك للبشرية في خطر

Date: November 7, 2024.

Subject: Letter to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay
A Call to Protect Humanity's Shared Heritage

Dear Director-General, Ms. Audrey Azoulay,

During the devastating war on Lebanon, Israel has caused grave human rights violations and atrocities, tearing apart the international laws as well as the values upon which the United Nations was founded. We mourn the tragic loss of innocent lives and the forced displacement of families from their homes, condemning these acts that violate the sanctity of human dignity. With the weight of these horrors pressing on us, we stand firmly with the United Nations’ mission to protect lives, rights, and cultural heritage, recognizing the urgent need to safeguard what remains of our shared humanity.

As parliamentarians, we bring to your attention an urgent need: the protection of Lebanon’s historic sites in Baalbek, Tyre, Sidon, and other invaluable landmarks currently at risk due to the escalation of the atrocities. These cherished landmarks, treasured not only by our nation but by the world, face imminent risk as the war escalates. They embody millennia of human history, achievement, and identity, carrying profound values that connect generations. Protecting them is not merely a national interest; it is a responsibility to preserve a part of human civilization that belongs to our collective global and international heritage.

In your capacity as Director-General of UNESCO, you hold the profound responsibility to defend these irreplaceable symbols of our shared history. UNESCO’s mission—to foster peace through education, science, and culture—makes the protection of these sites a central obligation. The destruction of these landmarks, should it occur, would not only be a loss to Lebanon but a tragic blow to global heritage, affecting people worldwide and irreversibly damaging humanity's collective identity. Targeting these monuments, directly or indirectly, will deeply impact them and threaten their very existence.

We therefore call upon you, Ms. Azoulay, to urgently prioritize the protection of these historic sites by mobilizing UNESCO’s authority, securing international attention, and advocating for protective measures. This appeal goes beyond physical preservation; it is about safeguarding the traditions, stories, and values these sites represent—legacies that connect our past to our future.

We, as representatives of the people and on behalf of communities deeply rooted in these cultural landmarks, appeal to UNESCO to respond to this urgent call. Your leadership, influence, and swift action are crucial to ensuring that this precious heritage endures, serving as a beacon of unity and peace.

With respect and trust in your dedication to humanity’s shared heritage, we urge you to take all necessary steps to protect these cultural icons. Through UNESCO’s advocacy, we believe we can raise global awareness, secure international support, and reinforce a commitment to preserving these irreplaceable sites.

Respectfully,