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22 September 2026, New York — As world leaders gather in New York for the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), ICCROM Director-General Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral is bringing the essential role of cultural heritage to the forefront of global discussions on peace, security and sustainable development. This landmark diplomatic presence marks a pivotal step in elevating cultural heritage within international policy, peacebuilding and climate resilience strategies. ICCROM is participating in and co-sponsoring the “Cultural Heritage at Stake” side event on 23 September 2026, organized with the Permanent Representations of Greece and Italy and the Permanent Observer Mission of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) to the United Nations. The event will highlight how protecting cultural identity, shared memory and traditional knowledge is not a luxury, but an indispensable driver of social cohesion, economic opportunity, sustainable recovery and long-term development. ICCROM's engagement will also include an intervention by the Director-General of ICCROM at the Founding Assembly of the Codex Humanitatis on 24 September 2026 at the Century Association in New York, an event organized by Saint Peter for Humanity – a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting human dignity, cultural heritage, and ethical principles for the future, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence. Her official visit will also feature high-level bilateral meetings with international partners, including Ministers and roundtables on the environment, food and stewardship. For the Director-General, who is participating in the High-Level Ministerial Week in New York, the UNGA provides an opportunity to reinforce this message with government representatives, foreign ministers, UN officials, international partners and the UN Press Corps. Throughout the week, she will advocate for greater integration of heritage conservation into national development agendas and humanitarian response frameworks. “Cultural heritage is the lifeblood that binds communities together, fuels sustainable development while providing a sense of belonging, and builds resilience in times of crisis,” said Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director-General of ICCROM. “The UNGA Ministerial Week is a decisive moment to ensure that heritage is recognized for what it is – an active, vital force for human dignity, peace, and sustainable livelihoods worldwide.”
ICCROM’s engagement at UNGA reflects a broader approach to cultural heritage – one that recognizes its environmental, social, cultural and economic dimensions and its potential to help address some of today’s most complex global challenges, while reinforcing its place within the multilateral agenda. By connecting heritage conservation with peacebuilding, climate action, sustainable development, and livelihoods, ICCROM is working to ensure that heritage is positioned not simply as a legacy to protect, but as an accelerator of transformative change, social cohesion, economic growth, and stability for our people, our communities, and our planet.
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