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ICOMOS and Conflict Zones

What is the role of ICOMOS in conflict zones?

ICOMOS considers the damage to cultural heritage and its impact on our shared humanity in crisis and conflict zones, and we remain committed to preserving and protecting this heritage.

In 1954 UNESCO adopted the Hague Convention and its First Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, creating rules to protect cultural heritage during armed conflicts, which were updated in 1999 with a Second Protocol. Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “the protection and promotion of culture is a human rights imperative”.

Information on the Role of ICOMOS in Current Conflicts

Information on the situation in Gaza/Israel

To keep updated on developments in the situation and its impact on cultural heritage, please follow the official pages of ICOMOS Palestine (website, Facebook) and ICOMOS Israel (website, Facebook).

These documents are designed to record threats and damage to cultural heritage sites, including heritage alerts, and keep experts and the public worldwide informed of ongoing developments.

This list is non-exhaustive and only contains documents and statements from the last 12 months.

The ICOMOS Palestine reports on cultural heritage destruction in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

As of November 2024, UNESCO verified damage to at least 75 heritage sites in Gaza, and has called for the protection of the region’s cultural heritage. The UN statements on the situation and news about events in the Middle East.

Information on the situation in Ukraine

ICOMOS has remained active observing damage and risk in Ukraine during the current conflict, issuing statements on risks to major cultural heritage and reporting on damage that has been inflicted. We have also provided support, in cooperation with partners such as UNESCO and ICCROM, including as part of the Blue Shield, to help Ukrainian heritage professionals and to safeguard heritage in Ukraine.

You can find a list of support, initiatives, scholarships and opportunities for Ukrainian professionals, scholars and students in arts and heritage fields here. Volunteers at ICOMOS Crisis Response group are keeping the linked list updated.

To keep updated on developments in the situation and its impact on cultural heritage, please follow the official pages of ICOMOS Ukraine (website, Facebook).

This list is non-exhaustive and only contains documents and statements from the last 12 months.

Recommendations from the European Commission-led expert group on the safeguarding of cultural heritage in Ukraine (15 November 2024)
ICOMOS Ukraine statement regarding the threat of destruction of the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List Site 'Derzhprom (House of State Industry)' in Kharkiv (28 October 2024) (pdf, 422.40 Ko)
ICOMOS Ukraine statement regarding the threat of destruction of the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List Site 'Derzhprom (House of State Industry)' in Kharkiv (28 October 2024) (Ukrainian) (pdf, 283.10 Ko)
ICOMOS Ukraine Statement on IDMS 2024 (18 April 2024) (pdf, 271.91 Ko)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in reports and statements issued by ICOMOS National Committees and/or ICOMOS Regional Groups do not necessarily reflect those of ICOMOS, and should not be taken as representative of the organisation as a whole. ICOMOS has not verified the accuracy of National Committee reports, and it is the authors who hold sole responsibility for the selection and presentation of the information that they contain.

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