The Regional Workshop on “The Role of Civil Society in Protecting Cultural Heritage” kicked off in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman.
The workshop, organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), was held from November 1 to 3, 2026.
The opening session was attended by H.E. the Minister of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, alongside a number of officials, experts, specialists, and representatives of civil society organizations from across the Arab world.
The workshop aims to strengthen the role of civil society organizations in preserving and protecting cultural heritage, while highlighting their contributions to safeguarding cultural and civilizational heritage and transmitting it to future generations. This involves developing mechanisms for community participation and promoting partnerships among government institutions, civil society organizations, and specialized cultural bodies.
The opening remarks emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts among all stakeholders involved in heritage protection, recognizing cultural heritage as a fundamental pillar of national identity and collective memory, as well as a key component of sustainable cultural development. They also stressed the need to move beyond the traditional roles of civil society organizations and establish effective partnerships in developing and implementing heritage preservation policies and programmes.
The workshop sessions addressed several key topics, including the role of civil society in heritage protection, the challenges facing community-based initiatives, and mechanisms for capacity-building and strengthening coordination and cooperation among relevant stakeholders.
The workshop concluded with a set of practical recommendations and proposals aimed at supporting civil society participation and strengthening its contribution to protecting and preserving Arab cultural heritage for future generations.
This workshop forms part of ALECSO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Arab cooperation in the field of cultural heritage protection and expand community participation in safeguarding both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, while facilitating the exchange of successful Arab experiences and best practices in this field.
