The Unit conducts research, education, and on-ground interventions to explore the intricate connections between cultural heritage and human rights. This knowledge informs the foundation for initiatives, ensuring a deep understanding of complexities concerning these topics. The Unit collaborates with universities from around the world to offer advanced courses, empowering individuals to champion cultural rights. Through workshops and seminars, stakeholders gain skills to safeguard heritage, fostering collective responsibility. The Unit organizes events, partnering with local institutions, to raise awareness and engage communities.
The Department recognizes that cultural heritage transcends preservation and understands it as a human rights issue which requires attention. Aligned with the UN Special Rapporteur, it aims to raise awareness concerning the link between cultural heritage safeguarding and human rights. Through education and advocacy, it emphasizes this crucial relationship and its societal implications. In this sense, the protection of cultural heritage can indirectly bolster human rights protection by fostering a sense of shared identity and community. Such a shared good would in turn enhance personal and communal identities, potentially fostering peace and mutual respect among humanity.
The activities offered by the Unit will include: Multiple workshops will be held including young participants from conflict, post conflict and non-conflict areas. These sessions will be organized in collaboration with the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict. Moreover four thematic research groups will be established, focusing on defending cultural heritage, gender-sensitive approaches, children-sensitive approaches, and judicial protection at both national and international level. Furthermore the Unit will engage university students and experts in an annual week-long course in exploring identified challenges, proposed guidelines, international tools, and sustainable practices related to the Department's focus.
