Naples, Italy hosted the Naples Conference on Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century, focusing on the synergy between the 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Organized by UNESCO in cooperation with Italian government bodies and supported by the City of Naples, the conference emphasized heritage as a driver of sustainable development, peace, and stability.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the conference, following MONDIACULT in 2022, was the first major event to bring together the World Heritage and Living Heritage Conventions. It celebrated diverse forms of heritage and encouraged new safeguarding methods through community participation. The event highlighted the importance of considering the connections between nature and culture, tangible and intangible heritage, and heritage and creativity.
In a session titled “Cultural Heritage in Times of Conflict: Fostering Prevention and Peacebuilding,” His Excellency Mr. Kong Puthikar from Cambodia, along with other panelists, discussed cultural heritage’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Mr. Puthikar’s presentation focused on the Koh Ker cultural heritage site in Cambodia, emphasizing its resilience in the aftermath of civil war and the challenges of looting and illicit trafficking.
Koh Ker’s transformation from a site affected by conflict to achieving UNESCO World Heritage status in September 2023 was underscored. The site’s recovery included demining operations, community workshops, and activities to enhance disaster risk resilience, partly funded by UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund.
The conference concluded on December 29, 2023, with the adoption of the “Spirit of Naples” Call for Action. This document presented principles and recommendations for UNESCO Member States and stakeholders to protect global cultural, tangible, intangible, and natural heritage, reinforcing the conference’s commitment to heritage as a cornerstone of peace and sustainable development.