Dear members and friends of ICOMOS

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting an ever growing number of countries and having a profound impact on our lives for a presently unforeseeable period of time. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our members, friends, and all parts of the extended ICOMOS family. ICOMOS expresses its solidarity with all those who are on the front-line fighting to contain this outbreak, care for its victims, and maintain civic life, and those who have already been directly affected in their wellbeing or have lost loved ones.

We understand many of you may have concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how that may affect GA2020 in Sydney, this coming October. Australia ICOMOS and the GA2020 team are monitoring the COVID-19 situation, which is changing very rapidly at present. At this time, there are a range of restrictions in place, which affect travel to Australia. As this is a rapidly-evolving situation, it is not possible to provide advice about travel in September / October, nor to speculate about the prospect that GA2020 may be amended, deferred or cancelled.

Every year, on the occasion of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, ICOMOS proposes a theme for the celebrations and activities to be organised by our Committees, members and partners.

Now, more than ever, the theme of Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility is important as an expression of our global unity in the face of the ongoing worldwide health crisis.

On 3 and 4 February 2020, ICOMOS participated to the Symposium on Water and Culture which took place in Tokyo, Japan, as well as a day of workshops aimed at better understanding the relationships between people and water.

[Update 4 March 2020]

ICOMOS South Africa has invited representatives from 17 African countries to be part of a master level pilot course in human rights and cultural heritage from 13 to 17 March 2017. The training, led by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights University of Oslo, was held at Ditsong Museum, Pretoria. The report is now available.