Our shared heritage, tangible and intangible, is the symbol and repository of our collective memory; evidence of our evolving social identity and our inspiration for the future. It gives back a voice to those now silenced, to tell of their achievements, of their disasters—natural or manmade—and of their beliefs and philosophies of life. How often, contemplating some magnificent temple or simple landscape, littered with bumps and mounds that tell of possible dwellings or burial sites of previous ages, do we travel back in time and across the globe to see how different peoples have shaped our world and been molded by it. Each of us, in our own different way, absorbs the intimation that speaks of whole societies, of peoples, and their complex interactions; ways of life and thought that preceded our own, culminating through human adversity in a legacy that is the 21st century.  Some of this exploration of our shared history will be evidence-based, some pure imagination, yet ultimately our understanding of past cultures is essential to understanding ourselves, our homelands, past and present, and our common humanity.

Viewed in this light, far from being the afterthought in the “security basket”, culture and cultural heritage acquire a power of their own. Sadly, despite the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (the Hague Convention of 1954) and the best efforts of the International Blue Shield Committee—formed to protect world cultural heritage as defined by the Hague Convention—we continue to see the terrifying scale of destruction of cultural and religious heritage, spiraling at times of conflict. The images from 2001 of the collapsing Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan are emblematic of the high price of war and extremism on humankind’s common cultural past. Whilst, for the current generation, this high price comes in the form of having to  witness one of the worst humanitarian and cultural disasters in history, no less than the destruction of Mesopotamia, the Levant and Arabia Felix, or Yemen.

When culture is an expression of creative diversity, it becomes the enemy of those who seek to impose a single world view, because culture is based on respect for “the other.” And diversity denies such intellectual terrorism.  Da’esh, the Taliban, Boko Haram and their like are not the first to have recognised this point and sadly, will not be the last. It is vital therefore that the declarations of UNESCO and other global bodies reaffirm the point that the right to protect cultural diversity and heritage is a cultural and humanitarian right, a right of future generations and an important part of the panoply of human rights.

The Middle East region, and the ancient city states of Mesopotamia, the Levant, Arabia Felix—the Fertile Crescent, are widely considered the ‘cradle of civilisation.’ This ancient world fostered the beginning of Western civilisation, ahead of the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds and the Abrahamic Faiths, and as such is central to the development of knowledge, its transmission further afield and human history.

It is here that man learned to live in cities and to write epics, not to mention pioneering the invention of the 360 degree circle. Babylonian and Assyrian intellectual history, science, literature and religion influenced the ‘enlightenment’ in a direct expression in the route of ideas. It is also where humankind first developed a code of law. On this last point, it is imperative for nations in this region to turn to the law as a vital tool against cultural destruction. It is for this reason that my country, Jordan, not only joined the International Criminal Court but stands as a leading supporter of the Court. I echo the previous calls issued by my government for the countries of our region to join the ICC. Doing so is in lockstep with our region’s heritage, and an investment in our collective security and future prosperity.

is Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and is the brother of His late Majesty King Hussein and the uncle of HM King Abdullah II of Jordan, serving as Jordan’s Crown Prince from 1965 until 1999. 

A pluralist and staunch campaigner for the rights of all to live in peace and dignity, HRH is a pioneer of Interfaith dialogue and understanding. Prince Hassan’s international commitments have included co-chairing the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues and his current membership of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor. 

Prince Hassan has long had an active engagement with environmental organisations, having recently served as the Chairman of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. Prince Hassan currently chairs the High Level Forum for the Blue Peace Middle East plan.