By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 23: The Kuching Declaration will carry Sarawak’s name into heritage conservation work around the world, with 10 commitments aimed at protecting living heritage, empowering Indigenous communities and strengthening resilience against climate change, disasters and conflicts.
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Malaysia president Faisal Abdul Rahman said the declaration was among the key outcomes of Southeast Asia’s first ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, held in Kuching from Oct 17 to 23.
“Those commitments will now travel home with our colleagues, carrying Kuching’s name into their work around the world,” he said at the gala dinner graced by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Riverside Majestic Hotel here tonight.
The gathering brought together 1,800 participants from 110 countries and culminated in the adoption of the Kuching Declaration on Oct 22.
Faisal said the assembly had also strengthened its international legacy through the adoption of five doctrinal texts which, together with the declaration, would give Kuching a lasting place in the history of heritage conservation.
Held under the theme “Living Heritage: Respect, Enhance, Accept, Partnership”, the scientific symposium examined how heritage is sustained through people and how it can endure through change.
Faisal also highlighted public programmes that connected delegates with Kuching’s communities, including the Heritage Exposition, heritage walks, the Night in the Museum programme and initiatives under Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE).
He said these activities gave delegates and young people opportunities to discover the city through the experiences of its communities.
As part of the assembly’s environmental efforts, Faisal said the newly elected ICOMOS Board had begun work to offset the gathering’s carbon footprint through the planting of indigenous trees.
“An ICOMOS Forest is to be established at Sabal Forest Research with support from the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS),” he added.
Below are the 10 commitments outlined in the Kuching Declaration:
1. Respect Diversity, Identity and Rights
We reaffirm that respect forms the foundation of heritage conservation. Recognising the diversity of cultures, values, identities, beliefs and traditions, we are committed to safeguarding both tangible and intangible heritage through ethical, inclusive and rights-based approaches. We acknowledge the equal partnership of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and traditional knowledge holders in heritage stewardship.
Respect also requires recognition that heritage can represent a variety of shared and sometimes contested memories and narratives. This plurality should be approached through dialogue, mutual understanding and sensitivity towards the communities for whom the heritage is meaningful.
2. Enhance Knowledge, Innovation and Resilience
We commit to strengthening heritage conservation through research, education, innovation, emerging technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration. We promote the integration of traditional knowledge and practices with scientific methods to improve the preparedness for emergencies, strengthen response and recovery, and enhance the long-term resilience of living heritage in the face of disasters, conflicts and rapid transformation.
3. Accept Change while Safeguarding Continuity
We recognise that living heritage is dynamic and continually adapts to environmental, cultural, economic, and social changes. We embrace plural narratives, shared histories, cultural diversity and inclusive approaches that support recovery, reconciliation, and the adaptation and continuity of living heritage, particularly in contexts of conflict and displacement, while maintaining its authenticity and cultural significance.
4. Recognise Traditional, Indigenous and Local Knowledge
We affirm the importance of traditional, Indigenous and local knowledge, skills, craftsmanship and cultural practices as living sources of resilience and innovation. These forms of knowledge and practice should be transmitted through intergenerational learning and incorporated into conservation, disaster risk reduction and climate action, while respecting community ownership and rights.
5. Build Equitable Partnerships and Collaborations
We advocate for meaningful and equitable partnerships and collaborations between communities, Indigenous peoples, governments, heritage professionals, academia, civil society and the private sector. These partnerships must be based on trust, ethics, shared responsibility, transparent communication, participation and, where applicable, Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
6. Strengthen Education, Communication and Interpretation
Recognising the interdependence of cultural and natural heritage, and the tangible and intangible values they represent, we call for improved education and training, meaningful communication and inclusive interpretation and presentation of heritage. This interpretation should amplify the voices of heritage communities, acknowledge shared and contested histories, promote cultural understanding and contribute to peacebuilding and social cohesion.
7. Empower Communities as Custodians and First Responders
We recognise communities, Indigenous peoples and local stakeholders as active custodians of heritage and as first responders to heritage emergencies. Their leadership, priorities and locally grounded knowledge must be recognised and promoted in heritage policies and management systems through meaningful participation, capacity building, equitable decision-making, and respect for cultural rights. This is particularly important in contexts affected by disasters and conflicts.
8. Advance Climate Action and Disaster Resilience
We commit to strengthening the resilience of heritage through preparedness, response and recovery. Cultural heritage and heritage communities must play an integral role in climate action, disaster risk management and conflict response. Heritage-based solutions and traditional knowledge contribute significantly to sustainable adaptation and resilience.
9. Foster Knowledge Exchange
We encourage an approach that recognises the interconnections between tangible and intangible, cultural and natural heritage, moving beyond isolated monuments and disciplinary boundaries. Shared heritage, cultural routes and common cultural expressions can foster mutual understanding and demonstrate the connections that unite us all.
10. Inspire Future Generations
We reaffirm the importance of recognising and empowering emerging professionals, educators, researchers and cultural practitioners as essential partners in shaping the future of living heritage. We foster ethical practice, creativity, innovation, intergenerational dialogue and the transmission of knowledge and meaning, enabling future generations to understand, sustain and carry living heritage forward with a deep sense of respect and global responsibility.
— DayakDaily
