IFLA joins Sister Organisations in Declaration on the Protection of Cultural Heritage during armed conflicts
30 Juni 2024
In May 2024, the international community celebrated the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague Convention).
Regrettably this Convention is more important than ever, as conflict and political instability continue to threaten human life and livelihoods, as well as cause large-scale destruction of cultural heritage.
The Convention commits States to make effort to protect cultural heritage of all kinds during peacetime as well as during conflict. They are encouraged to bolster preparedness and emergency response measures, develop initiatives to train military personnel in rules of engagement that protect cultural property, list especially important sites for enhanced protection, and raise awareness among the general public and cultural professionals.
IFLA joined partners from around the world in the Hague to mark 70 years of protecting cultural heritage at a conference hosted by UNESCO and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
It is on this occasion that we join sister organisations and fellow founding members of Blue Shield International to reaffirm our calls for the protection of archives, libraries, museums and heritage places during armed conflicts and political instability.
The International Council on Archives (ICA), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) have established a longstanding partnership to call for the protection of all forms of cultural heritage.
While we reaffirm that protection of human life is of the utmost importance, we also deplore attacks and destruction of museums, archives, libraries and heritage places, as they are a vital and unique part of the culture of the peoples affected by the conflict.
This declaration is a mark of solidarity across the cultural heritage sector – joining voices to urge all involved in conflict to respect the work of these professionals and to protect their lives and integrity.
We encourage library professionals to refer to this Declaration in advocacy at the national level, encouraging greater action by authorities to protect cultural property and promoting solidarity between libraries, archives and museums and heritage places.
Read the Declaration
Declaration on the protection of archives, libraries, museums and heritage places during armed conflicts and political instability
IFLA joined partners from around the world in the Hague to mark 70 years of protecting cultural heritage at a conference hosted by UNESCO and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is on this occasion that we join sister organisations and fellow founding members of Blue Shield International to reaffirm ...
Declaración sobre la protección de archivos, bibliotecas, museos y lugares patrimoniales en situaciones de conflictos armados e inestabilidad política
La IFLA se unió a socios de todo el mundo en La Haya para conmemorar los 70 años de protección del patrimonio cultural en una conferencia organizada por la UNESCO y el Reino de los Países Bajos. En esta ocasión, nos unimos a organizaciones hermanas y miembros fundadores del Escudo Azul Internac...
Déclaration sur la protection des archives, des bibliothèques, des musées et des sites patrimoniaux durant les conflits armés et les périodes d’instabilité politique
L'IFLA a rejoint des partenaires du monde entier à La Haye pour célébrer 70 ans de protection du patrimoine culturel lors d'une conférence organisée par l'UNESCO et le Royaume des Pays-Bas. C'est à cette occasion que nous nous joignons aux organisations sœurs et aux membres fondateurs du Bouc...