ROCK ART HERITAGE PROTECTION: CALL TO HAVE LOCAL PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AT THE HEART OF INTERVENTION STRATEGY
The Center for Saharan Studies and CNDH Regional Human Rights Commissions in TanTan-Guelmim, Laayoune-Esmara and Dakhla-Aoussred held a one-day workshop on Rock Art Sites in the Souther Provinces, on Saturday, the 18th of January 2014 in Guelmim. The workshop was held in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the Agency for Economic and Social Development in Sothern Provinces and OCP Corporate.
The participants called on the departments concerned to have local public authorities and local stakeholders (including local civil society, intellectuals, etc.) at the heart of any strategy to be designed for the protection of rock art heritage. They also called for an emergency program 2014 to identify the endangered sites that need urgent intervention.
Protecting rock art heritage is protecting cultural rights. It’s a challenge that must be overcome to preserve this priceless heritage, participants stressed. They made other recommendations, mainly:
- launching a comprehensive national program to identify all rock art sites and list them as a the national and universal heritage;
- training for the different stakeholders concerned with rock art heritage protection;
- educating and sensitizing the public about the importance of this heritage;
- organizing an annual national meeting to discuss the actions taken and future plan of action;
- creating chapters ofo the National Center of Rock Art Heritage in the Southern Provinces, etc.
The participants also highlighted the importance of integrating the Hassani culture, including rock art heritage and archaeological sites, in the school curricula starting from next year.