Merging Engagements with Synergies in Heritage – Initiative
Side Event at the 48th World Heritage Committee Session
Date, Time, Venue:
22 July 2026, 13.15-14.45, Convention Hall, Bexco, 1F, Room 110
Background and Goals
The side event presents MESH‑In, a long‑term, partnership‑based initiative aimed to strengthen engagements with synergies for heritage protection in support of UNESCO’s standard‑setting instruments. Led by the Institute Heritage Studies, and building on its long-term work on integrated approaches to heritage protection, MESH‑In brings together UNESCO’s efforts to enhance coherence across its normative frameworks with practice‑based synergies arising naturally in heritage contexts. The event raises early awareness ahead of the 2027 launch of MESH-In and invites broad cooperation from the outset. Co‑organized with MESH-In core partners from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe, the event illustrates how diverse forms of cooperation across policy levels, regions, sectors, generations and networks can reinforce UNESCO’s call for heritage synergies.
Drawing on the presented examples, expanded with insights collected through dialogue and digital collaborative tools from participants, the side event will contribute to UNESCO’s call for holistic approaches and interconnected action across its standard-setting tools.
Hosted by:
Co-organized with:
Speakers and Presentation Topics
The side event combines concise expert input with participatory dialogue. The illustrative examples will showcase the potential of MESH-In through examples of synergies across policy levels, regions, sectors, networks, knowledge domains, generations and social actors.
PART I: WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
13.15 - 13.35
Opening Remark
Friederike Hansell
World Heritage Focal Point, Federal Foreign Office (Germany)
Introducing MESH-In
Anca Claudia Prodan
Co-Director, Institute Heritage Studies
PART II: ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF HERITAGE SYNERGIES
13.35 - 14.15
Policy Levels and Practice
Jihon Kim
Synergies across policy levels and practice — Korean national legislation.
Regions and Sectors
Alissandra Cummins
Chair, Barbados National Commission for UNESCO & Director, Barbados Museum and Historical Society
Knowledge Systems and Domains
Tokie Laotan-Brown
President, Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Nigeria & Nsibidi Institute for Culture and Memory
Education and Thematic Agendas
Junsu Seo
Senior Programme Specialist, International Centre for Documentary Heritage
Generations and Social Actors
Claudia Grünberg
Co-Director, Institute Heritage Studies
Networks and Programmes
Marlen Meissner
Head of Department ‘Heritage, Nature, Society’, German Commission for UNESCO
PART III: INTERACTIVE EXCHANGE
14.15 - 14.45
Facilitated discussion and digital tools invite participants to contribute further examples and opportunities for cooperation.
