International Centre for Human Sciences (ICHS)

The International Centre for Human Sciences (ICSH), created jointly by UNESCO and the Lebanese authorities, is a research and documentary centre located in Byblos. Its mission is to form and set up researchers’ networks, and to participate in the development of human sciences by suggesting new ways of thinking contemporary issues.

With the departure of the former ICHS director, UNESCO appointed Gaia-heritage with the following mission: put forward a new structure, elaborate a communication strategy and find financing resources to implement an ambitious program on democracy: the « International Program on Democracy » (one of UNESCO’s main activities) is at the centre of today’s international policies that aim to tackle the implementation of democratisation procedures and their integration in non-western societies. The objective of the ICHS is to set about researches, organise meetings and trainings and to support NGOs that are involved in this field.

So far, the ICHS has published 23 Letters of Byblos between 2003 and 2008, as well as 5 reference works (mainly on democracy and culture); and has organised 6 seminars for PhD students from Lebanese and foreign universities. In 2002, the ICHS organises the first Autumn School during which 5 sessions and 7 public conferences were held. Every year since, the Autumn School has been gathering scholars, lecturers, researchers and international students, offering them a platform to debate and develop global thinking on issues related to human sciences.