From June 5 to 16, 2023, the course "Blue Helmets for Culture and Cultural Heritage in the Event of Disasters: Risks and Security Interventions" was held in Mexico City. More than 70 representatives from Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico participated in the event.

During the working sessions, participants, police officers, firefighters, armed forces, restorers, architects, and workers from the Ministries and Secretariats of Culture were trained to respond to emergency scenarios related to cultural heritage, such as natural disasters, trafficking in goods, and other related risks.

 

 

The course was organized by the Italian-Latin American International Organization (OIILA), the Italian Ministry of Culture (MIC), the Italian Carabineri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (CCTPC), the School Foundation (FONDAZ SCUOLA), the Mexican Ministry of Culture through the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and the Regional World Heritage Institute in Zacatecas (IRPMZ).

Some of the topics covered included legislation in cases of heritage emergencies, procedures for the recovery, intervention, security, and transportation of cultural heritage (movable, archaeological, and archival), and the creation of specialized units to combat illicit trafficking.

 

 

IRPMZ's collaboration in this international activity responded to the need to promote capacity building and best practices in risk management in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In accordance with the Institute's Establishment Agreement and 2023 Work Plan, this is one of IRPMZ's primary objectives as a Category 2 Center under the auspices of UNESCO.