Phnom penh: Since the dawn of civilisation, culture has been the soul of our societies, shaping identity, fostering empathy, and building bridges across communities. In times of conflict, cultural heritage and artistic expression offer pathways to dialogue, healing, and social cohesion. Culture plays a monumental role as a bridge between communities and a foundation for sustainable peace. It must never be weaponised but rather harnessed to address the root causes of conflict and nurture reconciliation.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, in today’s fragile geopolitical climate, global cooperation in culture and peace is more urgent than ever. Collective action, guided by the UN Charter, the 2030 Agenda, and the UN Summit of the Future, is imperative. The Asian Cultural Council (ACC), under the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), has championed cultural diplomacy, interfaith dialogue, and peace studies since its founding partnership with UNESCO in 2018. Initiatives like TECHO 100 Village development, cultural corridor connectivity, and digital creative arts place humanity and the planet at the heart of ACC’s mission.
In 2024, the Phnom Penh Peace Declaration was adopted, supporting the ‘Universal Peace Charter (UPC): For People and the Planet,’ endorsed by over 60 countries and institutions. The UPC outlines five pillars: peacebuilding, conflict prevention, transitional justice, food security, and post-conflict reconstruction. It has been considered a peace initiative by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), representing 670 million people across ASEAN. Dialogue and diplomacy are reliable methods, inseparable from the rules, norms, and principles of international law that bind nations’ obligations.
Cambodia has achieved significant milestones in safeguarding both tangible and intangible heritage through international mechanisms and partnerships. The International Coordinating Committee’s ICC-Angkor and ICC-Preah Vihear demonstrate how multilateral cooperation, particularly between UNESCO, the Royal Government of Cambodia, and international partners, can safeguard world cultural heritage sites and foster peace.
Despite prevailing international conventions and treaties to protect cultural heritage sites, threats of harm and destruction persist. A case in point is the Preah Vihear Temple, registered on the World Heritage List in 2008. Despite two International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings in 1962 and 2013 affirming its sovereignty within Cambodia, the temple experienced heavy artillery shelling and internationally-banned cluster bombs during periods of conflict.
UNESCO’s broader stance emphasizes that cultural heritage belongs to all humanity. The destruction of Preah Vihear Temple is not just a national loss for Cambodia but a global tragedy undermining shared human history. UNESCO’s role has been to uphold the sanctity of cultural heritage, advocate for peaceful resolution, and ensure respect for international legal obligations amid geopolitical disputes.
Against this backdrop, international support and good offices of the ASEAN Chair and Member States, the UN Secretary-General, and relevant UN bodies play a vital role in de-escalating tensions, upholding the value of international law, and encouraging a peaceful resolution to prevent further tragedy. Cambodia supports pragmatic UN reforms to empower preventive diplomacy, enhance peacekeeping and border-monitoring at heritage borders, and promote post-conflict recovery through science and innovation.
The protection of human civilisation from the misuse of AI and ICT is also crucial. Technology must serve, not replace, cultural and ethical values. To advance this mission, the establishment of a UNESCO Category 2 Centre for Asia is proposed to formalise the ACC’s role in promoting cultural diplomacy, heritage protection, and peace-building across the region.