3 min readJul 31, 2024 08:03 AM IST
First published on: Jul 31, 2024 at 08:03 AM IST
Four years after Donald Trump-led US administration pulled out of UNESCO, the country now led by President Joe Biden returned to the organisation last year and is once again attending the World Heritage Committee meet in New Delhi as a member-state. But with elections slated for November, there are apprehensions on how things could turn out.
Jean Manes, the US’s Acting Permanent Representative to UNESCO, tells DIVYA A that efforts are on to get bipartisan support in the US Congress for the country’s UNESCO membership. She also spoke about the role of the international community in protecting culture. Edited excerpts:
How do you look at India’s role in preserving heritage and culture? And how can India contribute more?
It is a big deal to have the entire world that deals with UNESCO, World Heritage sites and cultural heritage conventions here. It shows India’s commitment. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of additional funds for cultural heritage proves the importance India gives to culture globally.
Are there apprehensions that things might be different in US, vis a vis its UNESCO membership, should the administration change?
We’re focused on making sure that both Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress see the value for the American taxpayer, because at the end of the day, it is the American taxpayer who pays the $75 million. We have nine creative cities linked to UNESCO, in gastronomy, architecture, and it’s part of a global network. So, when you’re talking to a member of Congress, you have to show how this may bring economic development. And we try to show how much revenue comes into a city that’s linked to UNESCO… we also want to show why it matters internationally and how the US contributes to leadership on issues that matter globally.
What is the role of the international community in preserving heritage?
When you talk about heritage and cultural identity, having protections in place for disasters… whether it’s a war or disaster zones or a hurricane… is important… When you look at current conflicts or disasters, whether it’s Haiti, Gaza or Ukraine, UNESCO is involved in mapping those sites and making sure those sites are documented and can be protected.
What about the heritage lost in the last two years in West Asia and Russia-Ukraine?
They’ve been doing the mapping in conflict zones, which is important because you can’t work on cultural heritage in the middle of a war. But when you go back, you need to know what was there and have a detailed roadmap to reconstruct it. In addition to our $75 million, we’ve made voluntary contributions for Ukrainian cultural heritage. And UNESCO has also set up a special fund for Gaza.
PM Modi said the world needs to see India without preconceived notions when he spoke about new archaeological discoveries. India is now talking about its 5000-yr Vedic history.
It’s always important to see a country for everything they are. When you don’t have those first-hand cultural experiences, you assume things about other people that aren’t true. But when you go see their heritage… you know them for who they are. And for us, history is even more important because we have such a young country.
Jean Manes speaks about the efforts on to get bipartisan support in the US Congress for the country’s UNESCO membership. 
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