A/HRC/43/50/Add.2 testify to the millennia of continued human presence in the islands, and about the lack of general awareness about the importance of safeguarding those resources. 35. According to experts she met, approximately 80 per cent of Maldivian historical and archaeological sites, including sites relating to the Buddhist, Hindu and Sufi past, have already been destroyed for the construction of resorts and development projects. Such losses should be documented. 36. The Special Rapporteur was concerned to hear about the targeted destruction of symbols and monuments by fundamentalists who believed the statues represented idols prohibited in their interpretation of Islam. These incidents occurred during the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit in November 2011 and at the National Museum in February 2012. She had the opportunity to see the National Museum’s preIslamic collection, which contained many pieces that had been smashed and in some cases damaged beyond repair.3 While the Special Rapporteur appreciates the commitment of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage officials to ensure the preservation of this collection, the fact that the few surviving artefacts from that period are now locked away from visitors for their protection raises important concerns for the right to access and enjoy cultural heritage, and for history teaching and understanding of cultural diversity. The Government must create conditions in which it will be safe for the public to interact with these aspects of heritage, including through education and awareness-raising. The Special Rapporteur deplores the fact that the perpetrators of the 2011 and 2012 attacks on Maldivian cultural heritage have still not been successfully brought to justice despite some ongoing attempts to do so with regard to the events at the National Museum. Such impunity downplays the gravity of these acts and makes their recurrence more likely. 37. On the other hand, the Special Rapporteur commends the intervention of the Government to stop the construction of a resort in the Raa atoll, after experts from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage identified a historical site that needed protection. It would be important to learn from this case and take measures to systematically conduct cultural impact assessments and a survey of heritage resources in the preliminary planning stages of all tourism-related and infrastructure development. 38. During the visit of the Special Rapporteur, the development of a heritage survey to identify and document endangered heritage was being discussed. She encourages this initiative and would welcome participatory processes, through which each island and atoll would have the opportunity to restore the memory of significant local events and persons, such as the development of memorials in public spaces as well as local collections and museums. The aim should be to make historical information more accessible and integrated into discussions about the present and the future, and to bring to light the rich heritage of the country. 39. In addition to the scarcity of historical artefacts, experts regretted the absence of research, publications and funding in relevant disciplines. The country does not have any professional training available in the fields of heritage conservation or preservation. Those currently involved in the preservation of the Coral Stone Mosques, the only site proposed for the World Heritage tentative list, are self-taught. With no trained professional historians in the country, knowledge about past practices – such as matriarchy, succession laws and traditional celebrations – and awareness of their diversity across different islands, are being lost. 40. The Special Rapporteur was glad to learn that a social media group dedicated to documenting historical and cultural sites was witnessing increased interest, including from young people. However, she was concerned to hear that some of those involved in this work had been threatened online and were considered by some to be challenging the predominance of Islam in the country when they addressed evidence of the past presence of Buddhism or other religions. These perceptions have to be officially challenged in order to normalize discussion about the past and foster improved understanding of the various elements of Maldivian identity and history. 3 8 See Vikas Bajaj, “Vandalism at Maldives museum stirs fears of extremism”, New York Times, 13 February 2012.