Doha Conference Opens with Focus on Heritage Protection and Crisis Preparedness
The Qatar National Library has inaugurated the fourth edition of the Doha Conference on the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property, held from 21 to 24 September 2025, with a focus on crisis preparedness and heritage protection. The initiative is part of the Himaya program, designed to strengthen cooperation among institutions and states in the MENA region and to develop practical tools for prevention and recovery during emergencies.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of State and President of QNL, Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, emphasized the need to turn the conference into an operational platform capable of fostering partnerships, sharing expertise, and countering illicit trafficking with targeted actions. The goal is not only to raise awareness but also to enhance the capacity to respond to natural disasters, wars, and geopolitical crises that endanger the memory and identity of peoples.
A particular focus was placed on the situation in Gaza, where bombings have damaged mosques, libraries, markets, and manuscripts, creating a cultural as well as humanitarian emergency. Participants were urged to respond with coordinated and timely measures, aimed at limiting the damage and initiating processes of reconstruction.
QNL’s Executive Director, Tan Huism, stressed the importance of preventive planning and regulatory alignment, pointing to digitization and professional training as key tools for effective response. Diplomatic representatives from Italy, France, and the United States highlighted the value of international cooperation, recalling that museums, cultural institutions, and collectors must act transparently and responsibly to prevent artifacts from becoming part of the clandestine market.
The Doha Conference thus positions itself as a strategic platform for sharing experiences and defining common standards. Topics addressed range from illicit trafficking to the ethical responsibilities of museums, from the role of international conventions to the function of heritage in ensuring social and political stability. The overarching goal is to build a regional and global network which, through initiatives such as Himaya, can strengthen the ability to safeguard and enhance cultural heritage in an era marked by increasingly severe and unpredictable threats.
[Cover photo: Qatar National Library].
The Journal of Cultural Heritage Crime (JCHC), con sottotitolo L’Informazione per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale, è una testata giornalistica culturale, registrata presso il Tribunale di Roma con n. 108/2022 del 21/07/2022, e presso il CNR con ISSN 2785-7182. Si configura sul web come contenitore di approfondimento, il primo in Italia, in cui trovano spazio i fatti che quotidianamente vedono il nostro patrimonio culturale minacciato, violato e oggetto di crimini. I fatti sono riportati, attraverso un linguaggio semplice e accessibile a tutti, da una redazione composta da giornalisti e da professionisti del patrimonio culturale, esperti nella tutela. JCHC è informazione di servizio, promuove le attività di contrasto ai reati e sostiene quanti quotidianamente sono impegnati nella attività di tutela e valorizzazione del nostro patrimonio culturale.
