The UK government is planning to create new legislation which will result in the ratification of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
IHBC ETS Committee Vice Chair Bob Kindred OBE, who was the Special Advisor to the House of Commons Culture Media and Sport Committee when it considered the ratification of the Hague Convention in 2008 said: ‘The decision by the government to ratify the 1954 Convention for the protection of cultural property in event of armed conflict, is very welcome. The Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, John Whittingdale, was Chairman of the Committee when it scrutinised the enabling legislation [the draft Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill] during the Committee’s 2007-08 session and although the Bill was not enacted, we can now look forward to seeing the Convention and its two Protocols of 1954 and 1999 become legally binding and brought into operation as soon as parliament allows. It may also encourage more Commonwealth states to also sign up and will also strengthen our commitments within UNESCO.’
Historic England writes:
Government Tackles International Cultural Destruction.
- Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has described cultural destruction as a shocking threat to the world’s heritage and an affront to our common human values
- Government will introduce new legislation to ratify the Hague Convention
- The Chancellor is to commit to a new fund to specifically protect cultural heritage and recovery from acts of destruction
- The Culture Secretary will call together a summit in September of leading cultural figures to tackle cultural destruction
Henry Owen-John, Head of International Advice at Historic England said: ‘We welcome Government’s plan to introduce legislation to ratify the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. It is something we have consistently advised that Government should do – it will clearly state the UK’s commitment to the protection of internationally significant cultural property and the fund will help in the practical application of the Convention in places at risk of serious damage. Our role will be to advise government on the content of the forthcoming legislation, particularly in relation to the identification of buildings and monuments within the UK that will be covered by the terms of the convention.’
View more information on the protocol on UNESCO’s website
