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Paris, UNESCO and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will host an international conference from 13 to 15 May 2024 in The Hague to mark the 70th anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, commonly known as the UNESCO Hague Convention. The conference aims to assess the Convention’s achievements, examine its application to current global challenges, and explore ways to strengthen its principles in response to evolving threats to cultural heritage.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the three-day event, titled “Cultural Heritage and Peace: Building on 70 years of UNESCO Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,” will bring together a diverse group of cultural heritage experts, military personnel, civil society members, and private-sector stakeholders to discuss the future direction of the Convention. The conference is supported by the City of The Hague.
The UNESCO Hague Convention, signed on 14 May 1954, is the first and most comprehensive multilateral treaty dedicated to protecting cultural heritage during armed conflicts and peacetime. Over the past seven decades, it has served as a crucial reference for preservation efforts and a catalyst for international cooperation in cultural heritage protection.
The Convention plays a significant role in peacetime, providing guidance on improving legislation, establishing regular training programs for armed forces, and implementing effective safeguarding measures such as inventory preparation, fire protection systems, and emergency plans for armed conflicts. The conference will explore these and other topics, aiming to adapt the Convention’s principles to meet contemporary challenges.
The opening ceremony of the conference will take place on 13 May 2024 at The Peace Palace in The Hague. Accreditation for the event is available through Monia Adjiwanou at m.adjiwanou@unesco.org.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone R. and Director of the Culture and Emergencies Entity Krista Pikkat will conduct a press briefing ahead of the conference. The briefing will be held online on 7 May 2024, with sessions in English at 3:00 pm CET and in French at 4:30 pm CET.
This landmark event underscores the ongoing importance of the UNESCO Hague Convention as conflicts continue to arise and cultural heritage faces increasing threats. It seeks to reinforce the Convention’s principles, ensuring its continued relevance in the modern world and supporting global efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage.