International Humanitarian Law and the Protection of Cultural Property in Contemporary Armed Conflict: Current Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Cultural property can be damaged to varying degrees during armed conflicts, such as the devastating blows inflicted on cultural property during WWII. In reality, when a country is at war, its cultural property is exposed to unintended or purposeful damage. Cultural property has been protected by laws and regulations since the early twentieth century, and humanitarian law provides specific measures on the issue. This article will examine the causes of attacks on cultural property in the context of today's armed conflicts and analyze the inadequacies of the protection of cultural property in today's international humanitarian law. Despite the growing concern of the international community for cultural heritage, there is still a lack of clear procedures and penalties for crimes against cultural heritage in the context of regional armed conflicts, and the international legal system needs to be further improved.