Baku, July 24, AZERTAC
An international panel titled "Sustainable and Empowering Cultural Revitalization (SECURE) Model: Best Practices for Post-Conflict Cultural Recovery" was held on the margins of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea, organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The panel session was attended by representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
Azerbaijan presented the "SECURE" model for the protection, restoration, and revitalization of cultural heritage in the post-conflict period to the international expert community. The inclusion of the model for separate discussion on one of UNESCO's most influential platforms is an indicator of international interest and trust in the experience formed by Azerbaijan in this field.
In her opening remarks, Sabina Hajiyeva, Head of the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, provided insight into the restoration and cultural revival activities in the liberated territories.
According to her, the SECURE model stands as an innovative approach based on Azerbaijan's practical experience and can be applied to other post-conflict countries.
Moderated by Ambassador Elman Abdullayev, Azerbaijan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, the event featured discussions on issues of cultural heritage protection, institutional cooperation, capacity building, and involvement of local communities in the post-conflict period.
The meeting highlighted that the SECURE model offers a promising platform for international cooperation and supported the expansion of cooperation in its application and methodological development in various countries.
First unveiled at the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku in 2026, the “SECURE” model, the organization of a separate panel dedicated to the model at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee stands as another important indicator of the international recognition of Azerbaijan's experience in the field of cultural heritage restoration in the post-conflict period.