Protecting international cultural heritage

1. Protecting international cultural heritage A Review of International Committees Sara Bartels

2. Hague Convention • Established in 1954 • Developed after World War II due to the massive looting and destruction of cultural artifacts • Second Protocol • ANCBS • Use of emblem to mark cultural properties for enhanced protection • Military authorities need to respect and follow Second Protocol • Measures for Safeguarding cultural property in peacetime • Enhanced Protection

3. International Committees • International Committee of the Blue Shield • Comprised of Five international non governmental committees • International Council on Archives • International Council of Museums • International Council on Monuments and Sites • Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives • International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

4. Armed Conflict • ICBS objectives: • Facilitate international responses to threats or emergencies threatening cultural property • Promote risk preparedness • Train experts nationally and regionally to prevent and control disasters • Act in an advisory capacity for protection of cultural heritage • Consult and Cooperate with other international communities • Museums should have preventive planning for worst case scenario • Cultural Heritage Institutions need to assume responsibility

5. Prevention & Risk Management • Immovable cultural property includes buildings such as churches, palaces or castles, bridges or monuments. • Movable cultural property comprises archives, library collections, sculpture and furniture. • Active and Passive Protective Measures • Identify all objects/ monuments at risk • Use traditional risk assessment techniques to apply to cultural heritage objects • Prepare for damages of war and then secondary damages such as fire or flood • Pre-conflict, During conflict and Post conflict actions

6. Managing Disaster Risks • Take social and economic factors of the country into account when planning for disaster management • Need to understand historical heritage of buildings and traditions in conservation to continue to preserve

7. Haiti • UNESCO called for a ban on trade in Haitian artifacts • Cultural Recovery Center • Blue Shield assessed the damage and suggested the following: • Replace shelves • Equip books with bar code • Deacidification processes of serial publications • Bookmobiles to continue library service • Campaign donations for books • Archives • Increased technology/ digitization • Dust and reconditioning of collections • Training

8. IFLA • After Haiti, IFLA created Principles of engagement • Profile countries and determine their cultural heritage risk • Collaborate with internal/ external stakeholders • Assist in raising funds • Know how to respond in an emergency • Understand the limited resources, financial and technical and human time • Engagement on the ground • Determine resources within the country • Provide expertise • Provide training

9. Libya

10. IrAq • Looting of the museum brought new light to the work still needed on the international protection of cultural property • Staff members hid most of the artifacts • 15000 artifacts were stolen • Use of cement blocks to close entrances • Surrounded statues with foam • Placed blue shield on roof of museum • Many experts denied access to assist with restoration of destroyed items • Creation of Red lists/ One Hundred Missing Objects • U.S. Blue Shield Committee started in aftermath of Iraq

11. Timbuktu • Blue Shield Statement on Mali • Preservation of Ancient Manuscripts • 9 mausoleums have been desecrated • UNESCO established Special fund

12. Links and Resources • International Committee of the Blue Shield • Hague Convention • International Council on Archives • International Council of Museums • International Council on Monuments and Sites • United States Committee of the Blue Shield • UNESCO • International Blue Shield’s Mission to Haiti • Heritage at Risk • IFLA Principles of Engagement