Abstract
Abstract. Recent dramatic events have brought to the forefront the debate on how to protect, safeguard and document Cultural Heritage in conflict areas. Heritage places have become battlefields, sources of illicit trafficking and even deliberate targets of destruction because of the politicisation to further conflict ideologies as well as misinterpretation of the values they represent. Is it possible to protect Cultural Heritage under such circumstances? If yes, when is the right time to intervene and who can help in this task? How can documentation and training assist? The International Course on First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis promoted by ICCROM (The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) in collaboration with various partners focuses specifically on ways to help in such difficult and stressful situations. This paper explores the methodological approach and highlights the special circumstances that surround rapid documentation and preliminary condition assessment in conflict areas, and in cases of complex emergencies such as an earthquake striking a conflict area. The paper identifies international actors that might play a special and crucial role in the first steps of such a situation and recognizes the need for training activities to strengthen capacities for disaster response to cultural heritage at national and regional levels.
Highlights
The Hague Convention, which is still the only global legislation that establishes international standards for the protection of cultural property during armed conflict, celebrated its 60th anniversary last year
Throughout the world there are a large number of Cultural Heritage places that have been damaged through armed conflicts, looting and vandalism, including, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Yemen, etc. etc
The aim is to ensure that the affected communities participate in their own cultural protection and recovery, which in turn can become a driver for peace and comprehensive development after the crisis
Summary
The Hague Convention, which is still the only global legislation that establishes international standards for the protection of cultural property during armed conflict, celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. We have witnessed an unprecedented rise in the intentional destruction of cultural heritage due to armed conflicts. It appears to be a new form of terrorism that is being promoted through planned marketing campaigns which are spread through new digital and social media channels to magnify their reach, impact and shock. The loss of life, dissolution of families and the rifts in society are atrocious During such times it is the human needs that prevail and must be addressed – first aid, security, food and shelter.
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