"With cultural heritage we know where we come from and what we are today" stated Ambassador Fernando Carrera, Guatemala's Permanent Representative to the United Nations President of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS and Team Leader of the joint delegation of representatives of the Executive Boards of 6 UN agencies–(UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, UNICEF, UN Women, and WFP) while undertaking a one day visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra on May 1st 2015. At the end of five intense days of official institutional meetings, a visit to Petra, Jordan's gem, under the guidance of UNESCO Office Amman could not be missed. It provided a different angle on Jordan's current socio-economic challenges, particularly the adverse impact on tourism as a result of the sub-regional instability. It was also the occasion to discover the beauty of the site and become aware of the efforts made by the Jordanian authorities and the UNESCO Office in Amman to ensure its preservation. The visit was also a unique opportunity to actively...
"With cultural heritage we know where we come from and what we are today" stated Ambassador Fernando Carrera, Guatemala's Permanent Representative to the United Nations President of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS and Team Leader of the joint delegation of representatives of the Executive Boards of 6 UN agencies–(UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, UNICEF, UN Women, and WFP) while undertaking a one day visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra on May 1st 2015.
At the end of five intense days of official institutional meetings, a visit to Petra, Jordan's gem, under the guidance of UNESCO Office Amman could not be missed. It provided a different angle on Jordan's current socio-economic challenges, particularly the adverse impact on tourism as a result of the sub-regional instability. It was also the occasion to discover the beauty of the site and become aware of the efforts made by the Jordanian authorities and the UNESCO Office in Amman to ensure its preservation.
The visit was also a unique opportunity to actively engage in countering the negative tourist trends, as the delegation enthusiastically supported the social media campaign #Unite4Heritage (http://ift.tt/1NnJLog).
Born as a global movement to protect and safeguard heritage under threat, the initiative has turned into a global call to claim the importance of heritage for all, individually and collectively. In the words of Ms. Bokova: “Cultural sites have a universal value. They belong to all of us and must be protected by all. We are not just talking about stones and buildings. We are talking about values, ideas and belonging”. The aim of the #Unite4heritage initiative is to create a positive narrative on the significance of heritage to all, and in particular to youth. #Unite4heritage is powered by UNESCO but voiced by stakeholders from all around the Arab region and beyond.
Inscribed into the World Heritage list in 1985, Petra is one of the world's richest and largest archaeological sites set in a dominating red sandstone landscape, and one of the world's "New Seven Wonders". Petra is also a fragile site, facing various risks, particularly from natural and geological hazards such as earthquakes, floods and landslides.
The UNESCO Amman Office has prioritized action in the Siq, the 1,2km long, naturally formed gorge in the sandstone mountains serving as main entrance to the site. Through the “Petra Siq Stability” project, funded by the Government of Italy, UNESCO Amman supports the Department of Antiquities and the Petra Archaeological Park to preserve this heritage of outstanding universal value, thus contributing to tourist and monuments safety. In an integrated and sustainable approach, the project identifies potential unstable areas in the Siq by means of a pioneering monitoring system for rock block deformation and then outlines mitigation measures reflected in context specific guidelines for landslide risk.
As stated by Ms. Hazar Sassi, Counselor of the Tunisian Embassy in Italy and one of the delegation members during the visit to Petra: “Preserving archaeological sites in a country like Jordan is of utmost importance” and she added “The Wonderful City of Petra that we admired today is the best example of the UNESCO’s efforts and of international organizations to preserve heritage for future generations”.
For more information on the campaign please contact:
Nuria Roca Ruiz
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