UNESCO, from today Naples world capital of culture

The Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Edmondo Cirielli, the Deputy Director of UNESCO Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, and the Mayor Gaetano Manfredi open the works of the Conferenza Unesco “Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century”. The UNESCO Conference will be inaugurated with a greeting from the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and will bring together representatives and experts from the member states of the United Nations Organization.

“For three days – says Sangiuliano – Naples will be the world capital of culture, where the protection of intangible cultural heritage will be discussed with 200 delegations from all over the world. The city, an admirable synthesis of the many civilizations that have flourished in the Mediterranean, will be a stage for excellence for an initiative that will see the highest international cultural authorities discuss extremely current issues: at Palazzo Reale, meetings and seminars will take place on the protection of cultural heritage in conflicts and crisis areas, on combating illegal trafficking of cultural goods, on challenges posed by climate change to the protection of cultural diversity, on the sustainability of tourism and its impact on the relevant territories. Naples and Italy will thus see their leading role in the field of culture recognised”.

During the Conference there will also be a focus on the protection and broader valorisation of the heritage of non-European states, especially Africa. The event on Wednesday afternoon will be closed with the adoption of a “Call of Action”, a programmatic document containing a list of recommendations and good practices addressed to UNESCO member states for a more efficient protection of heritage, drawn up on the basis of the proposals of the experts meeting from tomorrow at Palazzo Reale.