{"id":17600,"date":"2025-06-04T16:48:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesiamsociety.org\/?post_type=activity&p=17600"},"modified":"2025-10-24T08:30:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T01:30:47","slug":"oriental-cultural-heritage-sites-protection-alliance-ochspa-safeguarding-buddhist-heritage-and-fostering-global-dialogue","status":"publish","type":"activity","link":"https:\/\/thesiamsociety.org\/th\/activity\/oriental-cultural-heritage-sites-protection-alliance-ochspa-safeguarding-buddhist-heritage-and-fostering-global-dialogue\/","title":{"rendered":"Oriental Cultural Heritage Sites Protection Alliance (OCHSPA): Safeguarding Buddhist Heritage and Fostering Global Dialogue"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_image=”https:\/\/thesiamsociety.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Jurney-to-Southern-cover-E.jpg” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/thesiamsociety.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2.png” background_size=”contain” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”350px” max_height=”500px” global_colors_info=”{}” background__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|auto|28px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px||15px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”second-on-mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding_tablet=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb url=”\/lectures\/” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”H||divi||400″ icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”24px” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_font=”|700|||||||” link_option_url=”\/lectures\/” icon_font_size=”24px” global_colors_info=”{}” body_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” body_text_color__hover=”rgba(29,39,49,0.7)”]Back to Lectures[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text admin_label=”Lecture Topic Heading” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” header_text_color=”#8e794c” max_width_tablet=”90%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||62px|||” custom_padding=”||30px||false|false” module_alignment_last_edited=”off|tablet” custom_css_main_element=”text-align: left;” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#dbd3d8″ text_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IjxoMT4iLCJhZnRlciI6IjwvaDE+In19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Pre-header message” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||15px||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”text-align: left;” text_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfcHJlLWhlYWRlcl9tZXNzYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9uIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||40px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ORIENTAL CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES PROTECTION ALLIANCE (OCHSPA)<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Buddhism: Expectation and Reality Series<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The Oriental Cultural Heritage Sites Protection Alliance (OCHSPA), founded in Paris in 2008, is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation and promotion of Oriental cultural heritage, with a special focus on Buddhist sites across Asia. As a non-profit entity, OCHSPA works to preserve the tangible and intangible legacy of Buddhist culture, ensuring its transmission to future generations.<\/p>\n

OCHSPA\u2019s mission centers on the protection of historical and cultural relics, fostering urban and social development through heritage conservation. The Alliance facilitates cooperation among international experts, universities, and cultural professionals, creating a global network for the exchange of knowledge and best practices in heritage preservation.<\/p>\n

A key objective is to engage scholars, institutions, and eminent figures in addressing critical issues related to the conservation of Buddhist and Oriental heritage. By organizing conferences, academic forums, and field investigations, OCHSPA provides a platform for diverse academic voices and promotes innovative research in heritage protection. The Alliance actively promotes dialogue between countries and cultures, particularly between Asia and Europe. It collaborates with leading universities, cultural institutions, and industry professionals to advance the study and preservation of Buddhist heritage, strengthening cross-continental partnerships. OCHSPA publishes scholarly works, research findings, and educational materials to raise awareness and support the conservation of Oriental cultural sites. Through its working groups and public declarations, the Alliance influences policy and practice, advocating for sustainable and respectful heritage management.<\/p>\n

In partnership with UNESCO offices (Kathmandu, New Delhi, Jakarta), national heritage agencies (Nepal, Bhutan, Taiwan), and prestigious universities (Sorbonne, Durham, Tianjin), OCHSPA implements projects that protect iconic Buddhist sites such as Lumbini and the Kathmandu Valley. These collaborations mobilize technical expertise, media engagement, and private sector support, ensuring that conservation efforts are both effective and widely recognized. By uniting governments, academics, and the public, OCHSPA creates a dynamic environment for sharing experiences and techniques, fostering a global culture of heritage stewardship and mutual respect. The Alliance\u2019s work not only preserves the past but also enriches the present, ensuring that the spiritual and cultural significance of Buddhist heritage endures for generations to come.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”About the speaker” icon_placement=”left” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_level=”h3″ header_font=”||||||||” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Eric Dubois<\/strong> is a French expert in international cooperation, cultural heritage, and economic strategy, with a strong focus on Asia. Based in Paris, he has built a distinguished career at the intersection of culture, diplomacy, and development. As a senior advisor at the French Embassy in Beijing, Eric served as Regional Fiscal Affairs Counselor for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. He facilitated international cooperation on fiscal and administrative matters, strengthening ties between French and Asian institutions. Eric\u2019s passion for cultural exchange led him to co-found and direct Rendez-Vous Fran\u00e7ais in Thailand, a private cultural centre offering language courses, a French bookshop, a bistro-restaurant, and exhibition spaces. This initiative fostered Franco-Thai cultural dialogue and promoted French arts and civilization in Asia. Eric is a committed advocate for the preservation of Asian cultural heritage. As an Executive Board Member of the Oriental Cultural Heritage Sites Protection Alliance, he has led community-based projects across Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. His work includes raising heritage awareness, training local guides, and supporting artisan communities around UNESCO sites like Borobudur (Indonesia) and Lumbini (Nepal), often through microcredit and sustainable development initiatives. A member of ICOMOS and a former auditor at the \u00c9cole du Louvre, Eric combines academic rigor with hands-on experience. He continues to bridge cultures and promote the safeguarding of Asia\u2019s rich heritage.<\/p>\n

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Wednesday, 22 October 2025 at 16:30<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Where” icon_placement=”left” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” header_level=”h3″ header_font=”||||||||” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfbGVjdHVyZV9sb2NhdGlvbiIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIiwiZW5hYmxlX2h0bWwiOiJvbiJ9fQ==@[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Admission” icon_placement=”left” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” header_level=”h3″ header_font=”||||||||” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfYWRtaXNzaW9uIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9uIn19@[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”For more information, please contact” icon_placement=”left” module_class=”contact-on-dark” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” header_level=”h3″ header_font=”||||||||” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” body_link_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” body_link_text_color__hover=”#81bbc3″]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfbGVjdHVyZV9lbnF1aXJ5X2NvbnRhY3QiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImVuYWJsZV9odG1sIjoib24ifX0=@[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ background_color=”#eff1f3″ custom_margin=”||-27px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”More Upcoming Trips” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ custom_padding=”23px||31px||false|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

More upcoming lectures<\/h2>\n

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