Localising the Sustainable Development Goals through Museums and Libraries

On May 28, the Third International Online Conference “Localising the Sustainable Development Goals through Museums and Libraries” was held and streamed from the Lviv Cultural Hub.
This year, the conference brought together participants from around the world to discuss culture, heritage, and education in times of conflict.

The program featured over 15 speakers from Ukraine, Latvia, Georgia, Moldova, Estonia, Lithuania, and the United States, who shared their experiences in peacebuilding through cultural institutions.

The morning panel opened with addresses from:
• Ernesto Ottone, Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO;
• Agnese Lāce, Minister of Culture of Latvia;
• Maryana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine;
• Iryna Kulynych, Deputy Mayor of Lviv for Humanitarian Affairs.

Special attention was given to presentations by:
▪️ Maria Rita Acetoso — on UNESCO’s efforts in Ukraine to strengthen the capacity of libraries and museums;
▪️ Linda Norris — on peace museums in the 21st century;
▪️ Peggy Nzomo — on the role of libraries in peacebuilding in the age of artificial intelligence;
▪️ Ihor Poshyvailo — on the challenges of memorialization during war and cultural resilience.

In the afternoon, participants explored specific case studies from various countries:
— how museums in Moldova and Georgia operate in conflict zones;
— how libraries in Georgia’s border communities or relocated museums in Ukraine preserve identity;
— how Ukrainian libraries have become centers of resilience and community development.

The event concluded with inspiring reflections from representatives of the National Commissions for UNESCO in Ukraine and Latvia, as well as voices from the museum communities of Estonia and Latvia.

The conference was supported by the UNESCO Participation Programme 2024–2025 and AECID.
Thank you to everyone who joined the broadcast!
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📸 UNESCO / Bohdan Yemets