News
UNESCO launches an international emergency mission to assess cultural heritage situation in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)
Sponsored by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, the launching was attended by Director and Representative of UNESCO in Brazil, Marlova Jovchelovitch Noleto, the State Secretary of Culture, Beatriz Araújo, the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, and the Superintendent of IPHAN in Rio Grande do Sul, Rafael Passos.
The UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund is crucial in facilitating the deployment of national and international UNESCO experts to Rio Grande do Sul to conduct a detailed assessment of the affected cultural heritage. They will propose actions to rescue and recover archives, items, and local heritage collections. The technical mission will include international experts Andrea Richards, a historian and archaeologist from Barbados, and Samuel Franco, a cultural first responder from Guatemala. These specialists will remain in the state until 19 July 2024.
The mission will foster the exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences between the local community and international experts who have responded to various cultural emergencies worldwide. Andrea Richards has supported crisis management in cultural emergencies caused by climate change, such as Cyclone Freddy in Malawi, Hurricane Lisa in Belize, Hurricane Maria on the Island of Dominica, and Hurricane Irma in Antigua and Barbuda. Samuel Franco, who has worked in cultural emergencies on multiple continents, is the President of ICOM Guatemala, former President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Latin America and the Caribbean, and a member of the ICOM Standing Committee on Disaster Risk Management. Among the national experts is Eneida Braga, a public management specialist focusing on museums and cultural facilities with extensive experience in advocating for the Brazilian museums’ interests. She was involved in the development of the National Museum Policy, the drafting of the Museum Statute, and the creation of the Brazilian Institute of Museums. Additionally, she serves as the Chief Commissioner of Cultural Heritage on the National Commission for Cultural Incentives. Another national expert is Janaina Hirata, a specialist in education and gender who holds a degree in Social Psychology and a master's in education and international development. She has extensive experience in prolonged crisis contexts with an emphasis on emergency, school safety, Psychosocial Support (PSS), and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools.
Funded Actions
As part of these efforts, UNESCO will implement various activities funded by the Heritage Emergency Fund extending until December of this year. These actions include online workshops to train local communities in rescuing and recovering museum collections and archives, and the creation of a quick reference manual on these subjects for wide dissemination and consultation.
According to Marlova Jovchelovitch Noleto, the approval of the Heritage Emergency Fund for Rio Grande do Sul represents a significant step in preserving the rich cultural heritage of this Brazilian state, which has been severely affected by floods and natural disasters.
This fund will enable UNESCO and its partners to work closely with local communities to protect and recover cultural treasures that are fundamental to this region's identity and history. We are committed to providing prompt and effective assistance to ensure that Rio Grande do Sul's heritage is preserved for future generations.
Since the end of April, the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil has faced unprecedented flooding and extreme weather conditions affecting 478 municipalities The flood almost completely covered some of these cities. By early July, more than 2.3 million people had been affected in the state, with 182 fatalities and over 735,000 people displaced.
The state's cultural sector was also significantly impacted. According to the state government authorities, the flood affected 50 museums, causing damage ranging from complete destruction to water infiltration, roof damage, or gutter overflow. The damage to equipment and collections was severe and is yet to be fully quantified.
It is very important to keep cultural elements alive, as they are fundamental to our identity and generate a sense of belonging, which is so essential, especially in times of crisis like the ones we are experiencing. This partnership with UNESCO is very welcome.
In response to the emergency, the Ministry of Culture (MinC) established a Network for Mapping and Recovery of Tangible Heritage, Museums, Archaeological Collections, and Archives in Rio Grande do Sul, combining efforts from government authorities at national, state, and municipal levels, civil society, and international organizations. This multisectoral emergency network includes MinC, the Brazilian Institute of Museums (IBRAM), the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), the National Archive, public universities in the state, the Government of Rio Grande do Sul, ICOMOS Brazil, and UNESCO.
We made numerous trips to the affected cities and have an assessment of the situation of the cultural facilities. With this information, we can facilitate UNESCO's work. Our team is available to accompany the specialists. Furthermore, we are developing public policies and will launch calls for proposals that can support municipalities that have had cultural facilities damaged.
The Heritage Emergency Fund, with its mission to protect cultural heritage in times of crisis, will play an essential role in responding to post-flood needs in Rio Grande do Sul. With the fund's approval, UNESCO reaffirms its unwavering commitment to strengthening member states' capacities to preserve cultural heritage and promote cultural diversity, even in the face of adversity. This support is a testament to our shared dedication to cultural preservation.
About the Heritage Emergency Fund
The Heritage Emergency Fund, a multi-donor fund for protecting culture in case of emergency, was established by UNESCO in 2015 to respond to crises resulting from armed conflicts and disasters. The fund finances emergency preparedness and response activities within the domains of UNESCO’s Cultural Conventions.
UNESCO works with Member States to enhance their ability to prevent, mitigate, and recover the loss of cultural heritage and diversity in emergencies and advocates for integrating cultural protection into humanitarian actions, security strategies, and peace-building processes, including leveraging culture's potential to strengthen resilience and support recovery.
Event's photos
