Hague Convention of 1954
| Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict | |
|---|---|
The distinctive marking of cultural property under the Hague Convention (Blue Shield).
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| Signed | 14 May 1954 |
| Location | The Hague |
| Effective | 7 August 1956 |
| Parties | 128 |
| 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 June 2017, it has been ratified by 128 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. The Convention seeks to safeguard the cultural property - and by extension the cultural legacy - of nations, groups and distinct members of society worldwide, from the consequences of armed conflict.
As of June 2017, 128 states are party to the treaty, while three others (Andorra, Ireland and the Philippines) have signed but not ratified the Convention. Currently, there are 105 States Parties to the First Protocol. The Second Protocol has 72 States Parties.
Cultural property is the manifestation and expression of the cultural heritage of a group of people or a society. It is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed on from generation to generation, including the customs of a people, their practices, places, objects, artistic endeavours and values. The protection of cultural property during times of armed conflict or occupation is of great importance, because such property reflects the life, history and identity of communities; its preservation helps to rebuild communities, re-establish identities, and link people's past with their present and future. As stated in the Preamble to the Hague Convention, '... damage to cultural property belonging to any people whatsoever means damage to the cultural heritage of all mankind, since each people makes its contribution to the culture of the world'.
The Hague Convention outlines various prohibitions and obligations which States Parties are expected to observe, both in peacetime and in times of conflict.
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