The UNESCO Chair for Interpretation and Education for Promoting Integrated Approaches to Heritage has been invited to the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2022) in Mexico City.

The three-day conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development took place from 28 to 30 September and brought together representatives from 161 UNESCO member countries, including 120 ministers. Among the ministers was the Slovenian Minister of Culture, Dr. Asta Vrečko. An important contribution to the Slovenian presence was the participation of the Dean of the UP Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Dr. Irena Lazar, who is the chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Interpretation and Education for the Promotion of Integrated Approaches to Heritage.

The conference was focused on cultural heritage and its interpretation; on the adaptation of the cultural sector in times of climate change and on the contribution of heritage to social and economic development. The warning about heritage at risk in Ukraine and other countries at war was raised. At the end of the conference, participants adopted a new cultural policy agenda that had been developed during the conference, aiming to build a stronger and more resilient cultural sector, fully anchored in the perspectives of sustainable development and the promotion of solidarity, peace and security.

Dr. Irena Lazar summarized her impressions: “The conference addressed and raised many issues of culture and cultural policies, including the importance of integrating cultural heritage into the curricula of education at all levels, including in the process of lifelong learning. This is particularly important for our UNESCO Chair and UP FHŠ, as we are working in this field and it confirms our orientations. Culture as a common good must be accessible to all, and this is where the involvement of the local community comes into play. This is how we build a relationship with and respect for culture and heritage.”