‘Culture for development’ and the UNESCO policy on the protection of cultural property during armed conflict

Abstract

UNESCO increasingly points to the value of culture for sustainable development. However, if we review UNESCO policies on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, developing countries do not seem to find access or implement them. Consequently, this paper analyses UNESCO initiatives related to the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict from a developmental perspective and explores whether they are adequate and inclusive for developing countries. Data for this paper were gathered from document analyses and additional expert interviews obtained via email questionnaires. The paper finds that UNESCO tends to be willing to improve the situation. However, the ratification rates of the relevant UNESCO Conventions in developing countries remain low, the implementation of these instruments is almost non-existent and the commitment to UNESCO protection policies is insufficient. This is mainly due to a lack of awareness and to the fact that the initiative has to come from the state concerned; the possibilities for international cooperation are still quite limited.

Keywords:

• UNESCO
• cultural heritage
• development

Notes

1. UNESCO, CLT/2010/WS/14.

2. Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and First Protocol, adopted 14 May 1954, http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13637&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.

3. Second Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, adopted 26 March 1999, http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13637&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.

4. UNESCO, CLT-09/CONF/219/4 REV.:art.7.

5. Summary of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihaer, http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?sum=284&code=ct&p1=3&p2=3&case=45&k=46&p3=5.

6. Request for interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihaer (Cambodia v. Thailand), http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/151/16564.pdf.

7. A/RES/65/166.

8. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted 16 December 1966, www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_cescr.htm.

9. UN doc. E/1991/23:108.

10. UNESCO Mexico City Declaration on Cultural Policies, World Conference on Cultural Policies, Mexico City, 26 July–6 August 1982, http://portal.unesco.org/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_A274FC8367592F6CEEDB92E91A93C7AC61740000/filename/mexico_en.pdf.

11. The World Heritage Fund, the Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property During Armed Conflict and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.

12. Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression, adopted on 20 October 2005, http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/Conv2005_BasicTexts_HD_EN.pdf.

13. UNESCO CLT-12/7.COM/CONF.201/4.

14. Sixth Meeting of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property During Armed Conflict, UNESCO Paris, 14–15 December 2011, decisions, decision 6.COM 6, available on http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/Decisions-en_20120216.pdf.

15. UNESCO CLT-12/7.COM/CONF.201/5.

16. UNESCO CLT-09/CONF/219/3 Rev. 3: art. 120.

17. UNESCO CLT-09/CONF/219/3 Rev. 3: art. 121.

18. UNESCO CLT-09/CONF/219/3 Rev. 3: art. 131.

19. UNESCO CLT-11/CONF.210/INF.1.

20. UNESCO CLT-11/CONF.210/INF.1.

21. Fourth Meeting of the Parties to the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, UNESCO, Paris, Room XII, 12 December 2011, Resolution, available on http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/Resolution_4SP_en_adopted.pdf.

22. UNESCO CLT-09/CONF/219/3 Rev. 3: art. 152.

23. Diplomatic conference on the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict (The Hague, 15–26 March 1999). Summary report, UNESCO: Paris, http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001332/133243eo.pdf: paragraph 16.

24. Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, adopted on 17 October 2003, http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00006.

25. Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression [online], adopted on 20 October 2005, http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/Conv2005_BasicTexts_HD_EN.pdf.