Amman, June 1 (Petra) — HH Princess Dana Firas, President of Petra
National Trust (PNT), the National Association for the Preservation
of Petra, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage, on
Monday inaugurated the “Portraits of Women – Beyond Stones”
exhibition at the Cultural Hub Bayt Yaish in Jabal Al-Weibdeh.

The exhibition, organized by the PNT in partnership with the
International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict
Areas (ALIPH) and the UNESCO Jordan Office, highlights the stories of
10 women from Jordan and the region. These women work on the front
lines of cultural heritage protection through professional efforts,
community initiatives, and volunteer work to safeguard tangible and
intangible heritage.

Speaking at the opening, Princess Dana emphasized that cultural
heritage protection extends beyond preserving archaeological
monuments to safeguarding living communities, stories, and traditions
that shape collective identity and memory.

She noted the importance of linking heritage to climate change
resilience, social cohesion, and local community support,
highlighting the pivotal role women heritage professionals and
community leaders play in protecting this human legacy.

The event featured a panel discussion on the role of women in
safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening its presence in
local communities. Six of the women featured in the exhibition
participated, representing diverse fields including archaeology,
scientific research, oral and natural heritage, and community
development.

Sandra Bialystok, director of communications and partnerships at
ALIPH and curator of the exhibition, said protecting cultural
heritage threatened by conflict, crises, and climate change requires
a localized and sustainable approach, adding that women often form
the backbone of these efforts.

Noha Bawazir, UNESCO representative to Jordan and director of the
UNESCO Jordan Office, said empowering women as leaders in the
cultural heritage sector is essential for achieving sustainable
development. She stressed the importance of building effective
partnerships between governments, civil society, and international
institutions while keeping local expertise at the core of heritage
protection.

The exhibition is organized within the framework of the 2026 Heritage
Award, which expanded this year to include Jordan, Palestine, and
Syria, aiming to highlight pioneering initiatives in cultural
heritage preservation and enhance regional cooperation.

The exhibition will remain open to the public throughout June in the
gardens of the Cultural Hub Bayt Yaish.

//Petra// AF