Source: PRNewsfoto/U.S. Commission

On October 11, 2018, the Kazakh Culture and Sports Ministry and the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad signed a memorandum of understanding on the preservation of cultural heritage sites in Kazakhstan of significance to Americans and their ancestors. Signed at the 6th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in the capital city of Astana, the agreement initiates cooperation between the United States and Kazakhstan to preserve the cultural heritage of national, ethnic, and religious groups that live or once lived in the territory of Kazakhstan, with a focus on Jewish heritage.

During World War II, Kazakhstan’s endless steppes and snow-capped mountains offered refuge to over 8,000 Jews, who were evacuated to Central Asia as Nazi troops advanced along the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1942. Later, under Stalin, thousands more were forcibly removed and exiled to Kazakhstan from Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltics. In the 1950s and 1960s, a third wave relocated to Kazakhstan to participate in large-scale Soviet projects such as the Virgin Lands Campaign, which transformed Kazakhstan into one of the USSR’s leading grain producers, and construction of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world’s first and largest space launch facility.

Kazakhstan is home to a population of 18 million, composed of over 100 distinct ethnic groups. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, independent Kazakhstan has experienced widespread cultural and religious revival; the country has further promoted religious diversity as part of its expansive cultural and economic development agenda. These movements have included the Jewish community, estimated to range in the tens of thousands, largely based in Almaty, Pavlodar, and Astana.

Whether closing U.S. borders to illicit antiquities or protecting the legacy of underrepresented groups in-country, bilateral agreements are a vital step in preserving cultural heritage for future generations. Cultural MOUs pave the way for cooperation in the protection and preservation of culture, thereby strengthening both economic and humanitarian bonds between nations. The Antiquities Coalition hopes that this agreement will be the first of many to preserve the rich tangible and intangible heritage of Kazakhstan, the heart of the ancient Silk Road and leader in globalizing Eurasia.

On September 26, 2018, the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield held its annual meeting at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Speakers included Nancy Wilkie and Colonel Richard Jackson (USCBS), Amir Gamliel (U.S. Southern Command), Beatriz Haspo and Alan Haley (Library of Congress), Doug Comer (US/ICOMOS), Trudy Huskamp Peterson (archivist), and Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick (UKCBS).

Speakers engaged in a thought-provoking conversation analyzing a range of topics, including the strengths and weaknesses of 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two Protocols, USSOUTHCOM efforts in Central America, the challenges of implementing the World Heritage Site program in Central America and beyond, the CPIA MOU process, and the UK’s recent ratification of the Hague Convention. Archivists spoke of risk-management and disaster-preparedness in museums and libraries, with special attention paid to the tragic destruction of the National Museum of Brazil in early September, and the politicization of archival material in Guatemala. The discussion reiterated concerns raised by the Antiquities Coalition Task Force Report, particularly those related to the Armed Forces and Department of Defense, and further drew attention to the importance of digitization of cultural patrimony, such as that conducted by the Digital Library of the Middle East (DLME).

USCBS playing cards specifically developed for USSOUTHCOM were also debuted. Appearing for the first time in both Spanish and English, the cards feature Central and South American artifacts, and focus on site looting and inadvertent purchase of conflict antiquities.  These unique playing cards provide both entertainment and subtle education about the significance of protecting culturally rich sites and historic artifacts in combat zones. Funding for the project was provided by the Smithsonian Institution and facilitated by the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

Sherri Westin, President of Global Impact and Philanthropy for Sesame Workshop, accepting the award.

The Annual Global Hope Coalition Dinner awarded the International Rescue Committee and Sesame Workshop a joint award for a 100 million-dollar project funded by the MacArthur Foundation to address early childhood education of Syrians displaced by the civil war. Sherri Westin, President of Global Impact and Philanthropy for Sesame Workshop, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

The Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street that helps “kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.” The Sesame Workshop works in over 150 countries, with numerous initiatives all over the world including the Middle East and North Africa. They teach young children a range of topics, from literacy and numeracy to respect and understanding. Studies show that preschoolers who watch Sesame Street do significantly better on a whole range of cognitive outcomes —than those who don’t. With their track record of success, the Sesame Workshop is a deserving recipient of this award.

Last week heads of State and Government — joined by leaders in humanitarian efforts and the art world — convened in New York to pay tribute to heroes who have made it their mission to counter violent extremism while advocating for peace and international engagement. The dinner hosted by the Global Hope Coalition on September 27th, 2018, under the spotlight of the United Nations General Assembly’s 73rd session, aimed to create partnerships and resources that can help wipe out violent extremism.

AC Chairman Deborah Lehr speaking at the Global Hope Coalition Annual Dinner

The Global Hope Coalition is a network of three not-for-profit foundations based in New York, Zurich, and Hong Kong is establishing a global platform to empower courageous individuals who stand up to terror and violence, preserve our cultural heritage, and build bridges across cultures. Each year the coalition identifies Heroes of the Global Campaign against Extremism and Intolerance and pays tribute to their efforts. During her opening speech Irina Bokova, former UNESCO Director-General, recognized the Antiquities Coalition’s tireless work in this field, stating “Deborah Lehr, who is also founding and chairing the Antiquities Coalition, is doing incredible work to counter looting, to fight the looting of antiquities, the illicit trafficking of art, and, through this, financing of extremism and terrorism.”

Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, addressing the room.

The evening began with Special Recognition Awards. The President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou was recognized for his work to promote peaceful Islam in the Sahel region. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi was awarded for his efforts towards cohesion and national unity in one of the world’s youngest democracies. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted her government and people’s compassion and rapid response to the Rohingya refugee crisis. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was awarded for his country’s diligent multilateral engagement to provide critical humanitarian aid and education for the enormous influx of refugees to Greece. Finally, Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of the breakout novel Americanah was also awarded.

The 2018 Heroes against Extremism and Intolerance Awardees included Lebanese Parliamentarian and political leader Fouad Makhzoumi; Bochra Belhaj Hmida, a Tunisian Member of Parliament; female Imam Sherin Khankan, the daughter of a Syrian refugee now leading Maryam Mosque in Copenhagen; Delphine Horvilleur, a Rabbi who has become a powerful voice in her native France against anti-Semitism, prejudice and rejection of the Other; Omer Al-Turabi, a Sudanese author and advocate of a tolerant and peaceful Islam; and Mamadou Gassama, a Malian migrant now known as the “Paris Spiderman”.

To learn more about the Global Hope Coalition, visit their website.

On September 26th, on the sidelines of the 73rd Annual United Nations General Assembly, the New York Public Library (NYPL) hosted a fascinating symposium on the critical role that cultural institutions play in engaging shared heritage. There the NYPL and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) reaffirmed their commitment to promoting cultural exchange and increasing access to their respective collections by signing an inter-institutional agreement to share their collections.

The Antiquities Coalition’s Co-Founder, Peter Herdrich, moderated an engaging discussion on safeguarding cultural heritage under the threat of conflict. He began by stating that initiatives like the Bibliotheques d’Orient and the Antiquities Coalition’s Digital Library of the Middle East (DLME) serve to create solutions to such problems by spearheading the digitization of collections of the Middle East and North Africa region. These initiatives also work to show communities that they are valued in the international sphere and start the dialogue between western organizations and nations under threat.

The panelists included a wide range of international experts. Father Samer Yohanna of the Salahaddin University – Erbil spoke extensively of his work to protect manuscripts on the heritage of the Syriac-speaking populations of Iraq and the importance of opening up the impressive collection to the rest of the world.

Annie Sartre-Fauriat, Emeritus Professor of Ancient History and an expert on the Syrian site of Palmyra, spoke on the issues of the post-conflict rebuilding of the ancients sites destroyed at the hands of Daesh (ISIS). She advocated for the restoration of the site using the highest standards of conservation practices while continuing the archaeological work on the site, as much as 80% the site remains undiscovered.

Father Columba Stewart began with underlining the longevity of manuscript preservation by speaking on the microfilming of Benedictine manuscripts in fear of the effects of the Cold War. Although the manuscripts remain safe, Father Columba highlighted the need for forward-thinking actions and preventive actions to take in anticipation for conflict and disasters.

To learn more about the DLME and Bibliotheques d’Orient you can visit their websites.

Presidents, Prime Ministers and Heroes Awarded for Response to Global Refugee Crisis and Efforts to Fight Xenophobia

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Before a packed ballroom on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Global Hope Coalition, a network of four nonprofit foundations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa dedicated to identifying heroes against violent extremism and amplifying their work, held its annual awards dinner Thursday.

Taking place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s 73rd session, the event paid tribute to several presidents and prime ministers for their “compassionate and dignified response” to the Syrian and Rohingya refugee crises.

Highlighting the evening were the 2018 Hero Awards, presented to three women and two men from Sudan, Tunisia, France, Denmark, and Mali for their courageous stance against jihadi extremism and xenophobic intolerance in their home countries and around the world.

“Last year’s Global Hope dinner showed us there is a dire need – and indeed room in the global conversation – for an organization that is dedicated to shining a light on the countless individuals that stand up to extremism every single day,” said Irina Bokova, the honorary president of Global Hope Coalition and former director general of UNESCO. “Too often, we find ourselves talking about failures in the global fight against extremism. But these individuals tell a very different story – one that can be showcased, amplified, and ultimately emulated. This year’s honorees show us true courage, determination, and resolve – characteristics each and every one of us can draw on to build a peaceful global society.”

The evening led off with Special Distinctions for Leadership, presented to: President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou for his work to promote peaceful Islam in the Sahel region; Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi for his efforts towards cohesion and national unity in one of the world’s youngest democracies; Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for her government and people’s compassion and rapid response to the Rohingya refugee crisis; and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for his country’s diligent multilateral engagement to provide critical humanitarian aid and education for the enormous influx of refugees to Greece.

In addition to sizable delegations from Niger, Tunisia, Greece, and Bangladesh, heads of state from Angola, Nigeria, and Senegal each sent high-level personal envoys to show their support for the Global Hope Coalition and its work.

The ceremonies continued with recognition of Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of the breakout novel Americanah. The Syrian refugee crisis was the focus of two awards: one to Lebanese Parliamentarian and political leader Fouad Makhzoumi, for his foundation’s humanitarian assistance to refugees in Lebanon, and a joint award to the International Rescue Committee and Sesame Workshop, for a 100 million-dollar project funded by the MacArthur Foundation to address early childhood education of Syrians displaced by the civil war.

The 2018 Heroes of the Global Campaign against Extremism and Intolerance came from every corner of the globe and have each contributed meaningfully to peace and tolerance in their communities and countries. Heroes honored last night were Bochra Belhaj Hmida, a Tunisian Member of Parliament; female Imam Sherin Khankan, the daughter of a Syrian refugee now leading Maryam Mosque in Copenhagen; Delphine Horvilleur, a Rabbi who has become a powerful voice in her native France against anti-Semitism, prejudice and rejection of the Other; Omer Al-Turabi, a Sudanese author and advocate of a tolerant and peaceful Islam; and Mamadou Gassama, a Malian migrant now known as the “Paris Spiderman” who saved a child by climbing the façade of a building in Paris last May and has since become the face of untold suffering by tens of thousands of young Africans trying to reach Europe.

The event marked the second annual dinner for the Global Hope Coalition, which was launched in 2016 to convene prominent influencers around a common goal: finding and highlighting local activists fighting extremism, preaching tolerance, and dedicated to fostering diverse and inclusive societies.

“Violent extremism is a cancer that needs to be rooted out locally, through the actions of courageous women and men in vulnerable communities around the world,” said Abe Radkin, chief executive of the Coalition. “We owe it to these Heroes to empower them through better training, better networking and greater awareness.”

In addition to its annual dinner, Global Hope serves as a global convener and resource for individuals and groups engaged in promoting cross-cultural dialogue, peace, and tolerance. Serving as a link between countries, organizations, and people, the Coalition facilitates partnerships with stakeholders around the globe to increase heroes’ capacity, expand their reach, and extend their capabilities on the ground.

“The added exposure of being declared a Global Hope Hero last year gave my organization a huge boost,” said Dr. Waheed Arian, director of TeleHeal, a London-based nonprofit organization that mobilizes volunteer physicians in the UK to advise local doctors working in conflict zones through Skype. “Global Hope helped us increase our impact on the ground, and form a partnership with the World Health Organization.” Arian arrived in the UK as a teenage refugee from Afghanistan.

“We’re committed to taking the energy that coalesces around this night and translating it into meaningful partnerships and resources that can help shift not only the balance of power in this fight, but actually create a seismic shift that can help wipe out violent extremism,” said Deborah Lehr, Chair of Global Hope USA and Chairman of global cultural racketeering and theft prevention project the Antiquities Coalition.

SOURCE Global Hope Coalition