NNA - Minister of Culture Dr. Ghassan Salamé sponsored the launch of the "Right to Heritage: From International Commitment to Inclusive National Legislation" initiative, organized by the "Silat for Culture" Association at the National Library in Sanayeh, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) and International Human Rights Day (December 10). The event was attended by the association's president, Maya Hamidan; the head of the Museums Authority Committee, Annemarie Afif; the head of the Culture Program at the UNESCO Regional Office, Joseph Kreidi; the head of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Lebanon branch and founding member of the "Silat" Association, Dr. Asaad Seif; representatives from civil society organizations; organizations concerned with persons with disabilities; and experts in the fields of heritage and human rights.

This project follows Lebanon's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on June 5, 2015.

Salamé

At the outset, the Minister of Culture welcomed the attendees to "the Ministry and the library, which has become a place for gathering, not just for reading." He added, "Since assuming this role for the second time, I have committed myself to making the promotion of human rights a central focus of the Ministry of Culture. Therefore, this place has become a meeting place for committees representing those missing from the civil war, for the families of the victims of the port explosion, and for all those who have suffered marginalization."

He added: “I am very proud that in this very place, the Lebanese state, for the first time, acknowledged its responsibility for the port explosion, in the presence of the Prime Minister himself, who came and admitted this responsibility. Amidst all that is happening, we consider it one of our fundamental responsibilities to promote a culture of human rights. Therefore, I invite you all to attend tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM, as we will be holding a discussion on this topic with the Minister of Justice in attendance. We view this event today with the Silat Association as a step in our work to promote a culture of human rights, regardless of who is affected, especially the marginalized.”

He continued: “Regarding the issue of heritage and people with disabilities, this is, of course, a natural right and a fundamental human right. I am pleased that, during our government’s term, the international convention was signed and ratified this month, and now it needs to be implemented. I am also pleased that we have established and revitalized the National Museums Authority, whose president is present with us today. One of the first tasks of this authority will be to establish the criteria for granting museum designation. There are dozens of places in Lebanon that are called museums, and this chaos must end. Therefore, the authority must define the necessary criteria for the Ministry to adopt.” The Minister of Culture stated: "This event we are gathered here for today aims to establish a requirement for accessibility to museums for people with disabilities. This is one of the conditions the state imposes on any museum, starting with its own, to be considered a fully-fledged museum. I hope the Authority will begin working on this matter and adopting this condition at the beginning of next year."

He added: "The last point I would like to address is that I heard you are working to establish the appropriate legal framework for the national implementation of the international treaty, and I support you in this. Of course, we need a framework, and we can develop it together. I hope the association will meet with the Museums Authority to jointly draft a legal framework, most likely a bill. I promise you that I will present the bill to the government and the House of Representatives as soon as you finalize it. However, this is not enough. We must raise the necessary funds to implement the requirements of this law after its enactment, and perhaps even before. Therefore, we must consider the state's limited financial resources and begin searching for a fund for external and internal donations to secure the necessary funding for museums and archaeological sites." Salamé concluded: "The state's finances will need years before it can undertake this type of work. Therefore, we must cooperate with UNESCO, relevant associations, and the Museums Authority, as well as work to establish a special fund to implement the provisions of that law after its official adoption by the state."

Hamidan

For her part, the head of the "Salat" Association stressed that "heritage is not a luxury or an optional activity, but is fundamentally linked to human dignity, identity, and full citizenship."

She emphasized that "social, architectural, and informational barriers must be broken down so that everyone can access and interact with heritage."

She pointed to "the importance of genuine partnership with organizations concerned with people with disabilities, as they are key partners in formulating recommendations," calling on "cultural institutions, civil society organizations, and the media to actively participate in the workshops and discussions that will be held starting in early 2026."

Laqis
The head of the Lebanese Federation for People with Physical Disabilities, Silvana Laqis, expressed "the Federation's readiness to cooperate and support the initiative," calling on "all relevant associations and organizations to join in advocating for the right to heritage, just like other rights." Rights.

Testimonies

The event included presentations of personal experiences from people with disabilities about the challenges they faced while trying to visit archaeological sites and museums.