On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, INSAF Center for Defending Freedoms & Minorities Chairperson, Eman Homaid, participated in a symposium she was officially invited to, held at Harvard Law School in Boston, USA, in which she spoke about the Yemeni heritage and cultural destruction it is being subjected to.
During her speech, Homaid pointed out that Yemenis have become more aware of the importance of their heritage. She praised the diversity and antiquity of Yemeni civilization, as being one of the most distinguished in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. She stressed that the Yemeni cultural heritage is distinguished by being a living heritage that is transmitted from generation to generation, reflects the steadfastness of the Yemeni people and their rich culture, and addressed the steps through which Yemeni cultural heritage can be preserved.
Humaid appealed to local entities to enhance interest in preserving Yemeni heritage. She praised the agreements made to return looted antiquities, especially in light of the significant damage to cultural heritage resulting from the ongoing war. She called on the conflicting parties and the international community to support Yemeni bodies to preserve Yemeni heritage.
The symposium was moderated by Bonnie Docherty, a human rights researcher at Harvard Law School, with the participation of Robert Bevan, a journalist, author, and heritage consultant, in addition to a number of students and researchers at Harvard Law School.
INSAF Center’s participation in this symposium reflects the global interest in Yemeni heritage and the need to protect and preserve it as an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage.
