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In a much-needed piece of good news for Lebanon, Lebanese diplomat Hind Darwish has helped secure a major international victory by leading the successful effort to have five historic Jabal Amel castles inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
During its 48th session in Busan, South Korea, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee approved Lebanon’s nomination to inscribe Beaufort Castle (Qalaat Al Shaqif), Tebnine Castle, Chaqra Castle, Deir Kifa Castle, and Chamaa Castle on both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The decisions recognize the castles’ outstanding universal value while also placing them under increased international protection at a time when Lebanon’s cultural heritage continues to face serious threats by enemy forces.
As Lebanon’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Hind Darwish played a key role in rallying international support for the nomination, proving that even amid ongoing challenges, Lebanon can still earn global recognition for protecting its history and identity.
Following the announcement, Darwish wrote In a piece for Al Modon that the milestone was never the work of one person alone: “The most beautiful successes are those achieved through collective work.”
In the piece, she thanked Lebanon’s Ministry of Culture, led by Minister Ghassan Salame and advisor Jad Tabet, and the Directorate General of Antiquities, headed by Sarkis Khoury, for their role in securing the nomination. She also credited UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany and Lebanon’s ambassador to South Korea, Wael Hashem, along with the wider circle of diplomats and heritage experts who worked behind the scenes.
The recognition comes alongside another important decision made during the same UNESCO session: the emergency inscription of the archaeological sites of Tire on the List of World Heritage in Danger, reinforcing international efforts to safeguard some of Lebanon’s most precious historic landmarks.
At a time when much of the country’s heritage has been at risk, this latest UNESCO decision serves as a reminder that preserving Lebanon’s past is still possible, and that dedicated Lebanese professionals like Hind Darwish continue to fight for it on the world stage.
