The event took place with the participation of H.E. Dr Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Foreign Minister of Iraq, H.E. Mr Nasser Judeh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, H.E. Mr Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Foreign Minister of Egypt, and H.E. Ms Julie Bishop, Foreign Minister of Australia, Mr Kevin Rudd, President of the Asia Society Policy Institute, Ms Josette Sheeran, President of the Asia Society, and Ms Deborah Lehr, Chair of the Antiquities Coalition -- along with experts and officials from across the cultural field.

“Culture is attacked, precisely because of what it represents to the people of Iraq and Syria and the region, because of what it embodies to all women and men – a vision of humanity united around diversity,” declared the Director-General, giving an overview of the extent of destruction to cultural sites in Syria and Iraq.

She reviewed UNESCO’s action to mitigate the risk of destruction and pillaging through monitoring and capacity-building, to fight illicit trafficking with neighbouring countries and all international partners through enhanced law enforcement and border control, to document what has been destroyed and prepare for reconciliation, as well as to counter the propaganda of hatred through new forms of communication. 

She underlined the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 2199 here, and UNESCO's leadership in moving it forward.

This includes the launch at the University of Baghdad in March of a global social media campaign, #Unite4Heritage, to engage youth in challenging the propaganda of violence and to strengthen unity around shared values.

“These are attacks against people, against their identities, against their human rights,” said Irina Bokova.

“This is why today, more than ever, we must stand together, to protect cultural heritage, combat illicit trafficking of cultural property and to transmit this shared wealth to future generations, so they can build stable and just societies."

The Director-General said that the fight against cultural cleansing is a peacebuilding imperative: "these are attacks against peace, to undermine the grounds for reconciliation."

While commending UNESCO for spearheading the international response, former Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd emphasized that "the strong voice and engagement of foreign ministers are needed - globally, and in the region."

The Foreign Minister of Egypt, H.E. Mr Sameh Hassan Shoukry, called for stronger action, including regional cooperation, reminding of the Cairo Regional Conference on Culture under Threat, in May‎.

Jordanian Foreign Minister, H.E. Mr Nasser Judeh, said: "terrorists are terrified by history," and this‎ fuels the destruction and looting of humanity's cultural heritage. 

He laid emphasis on the need to act urgently and together, with the international community standing united for dialogue and peaceful coexistence. He supported UNESCO's reference to 'cultural cleansing' to depict the threat posed by violent extremism.

H.E. Ms Julie Bishop, Australia Foreign Minister‎, reviewed the roots of violent extremism, and the importance of destroying history for Da'esh. 

She linked the fight against trafficking with the wider struggle against terrorism, underlining this starts with national legislation and policies:

"This is about the essence of humankind," said the Australian Foreign Minister.

H.E. Mr Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Foreign Minister of Iraq‎‎, said cultural destruction and looting are attacks against the history of human civilisation, the present and to abolish its future. He stressed the need for legal responses and stronger regional cooperation against trafficking. 

"Iraq is on the frontline," he said, "we must not allow the culture of despair to spread."

"There is so much to be done," said Irina Bokova, "to strengthen legislation, to bolster capacities, to deepen cooperation, all of this to protect the cultural heritage that belongs to us all."