UNITED NATIONS: Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educa­tional, Scientific and Cultu­ral Organisation (Unesco) launched on Monday at Baghdad University Unite 4 Heritage, a social media ca­m­paign to counter the pro­pa­ganda of cultural cleansing in Iraq and other crisis-torn countries, a press rel­ease here said.

Taking an innovative step to support Iraqi youths and to mobilise young people worldwide for the protection of cultural heritage. Ms Bokova said: “Today, we send a clear message”. “We do not accept cultural cleansing and we will stand together to do everything we can to stop it.”

Unite4Heritage was conceived in response to the destruction and pillage of cultural heritage in conflict zones, most recently in Iraq. It builds on an initiative

started by Baghdad University students on March 5 in protest against videos of destruction and looting at Mosul Museum, the historical city of Nimrud and the World Heritage site of Hatra.

According to Unesco, the campaign will use the power of social networks to create a global movement to protect and safeguard heritage under threat.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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