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Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict

Hague Convention of 1954
Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
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The distinctive marking of cultural property under the convention (blue shield).
Signed 14 May 1954; 62 years ago (1954-05-14)
Location The Hague
Effective 7 August 1956; 60 years ago (1956-08-07)
Parties 126
Depositary Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Languages English, French, Russian and Spanish

The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is the first international treaty that focuses exclusively on the protection of cultural property in armed conflict. It was signed at The Hague, Netherlands on 14 May 1954 and entered into force on 7 August 1956. As of March 2016, it has been ratified by 127 states.

The Hague Convention was adopted in the wake of the severe cultural destruction that occurred during the Second World War. Two Protocols to the Convention have been concluded. The First Protocol was introduced on 14 May 1954, and came into force on 7 August 1956. The Second Protocol was introduced on 26 March 1999, and came in force on 9 March 2004.

The Hague Convention covers immovable and movable cultural heritage including monuments, art, archaeological sites, scientific collections, manuscripts, books and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest to ensure the cultural legacy and by extension the cultural property of nations, groups and distinct members of a society worldwide facing armed conflict.

As of February 2017, 128 states are party to the treaty, while have signed, but not ratified. Currently, there are 105 States Parties to the First Protocol. The Second Protocol has 69 States Parties.

Cultural property is the expression of the cultural heritage of a group or a society. It is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed on from generations, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions and values. The protection of the cultural property during times of armed conflict or occupation is of great importance because it reflects the life, history and identity of the community, therefore its preservation helps to rebuild a community, re-establish its identity, and link its past with its present and future. In addition, the cultural property of any people contributes to the cultural heritage of humankind, consequently, its loss or damage to such property impoverishes humankind as a whole.

Broadly, the Hague Convention requires that States Parties adopt protection measures during peacetime for the safeguarding of cultural property. Such measures include the preparation of inventories, preparation for the removal of movable cultural property and the designation of competent authorities responsible for the safeguarding of cultural property.


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