In 2024
​we celebrateD the ​70th Anniversary of the 1954 Hague Convention!

13-15 May 2024, THE HAGUE ​
​UNESCO International Conference

The Kingdom of the Netherlands hosted the UNESCO International Conference “Cultural Heritage and Peace: Building on 70 years of UNESCO Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict” from 13-15 May 2024, with a welcoming ceremony at the Peace Palace on 13 May 2024.

The conference was the prelude to a series of anniversary events this year as the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Hague Convention presents an opportunity to collectively reflect on the achievements and associated best practices, along with challenges and difficulties these instruments entail. 

Watch the conference online

15 May 2024, THE HAGUE
​Documenting the Destruction of Heritage & Seeking Solutions​

On 15th May a special panel talk "Documenting the Destruction of Heritage & Seeking Solutions" commemorating the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Hague Convention took place at the Hague Humanity Hub.
​
The event was hosted in collaboration with Cultural Emergency Response, the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative, and Blue Shield International.

2 July 2024, BRUSSELS
​EXPERT SYMPOSIUM& Anniversary Event​
"Milestones & Way to Go"

We invited to a 70th anniversary event of the '1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict' on 2 July 2024 at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU in Brussels. 
 
The event looked at the Convention's 'Milestones & Way to go' and offered insights from various experts of respective institutions and fields including the European Union, the defense sector as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs). By fostering collaborative dialogue, we explored interdisciplinary strategies and initiatives for further enhancing the protection of cultural property in armed conflicts and catastrophes. 
 
This event was jointly organised by Blue Shield Austria, Blue Shield Germany, the German Society for Cultural Property Protection e.V., the Swiss Society for Cultural Property Protection & the Fraunhofer Society under the patronage of the Austrian Embassy to Belgium, supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum.

11-13 November 2024, Vienna
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
​​"Cultural Property Protection in the 21st Century: Meeting Requirements across the Forces"

Regarding the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the 1954 Hague Convention and its 1954 First Protocol, as well as the 25th anniversary of the adoption of its 1999 Second Protocol, the International Conference "Cultural Property Protection in the 21st Century: Meeting Requirements across the Forces" took place from 11 to 13 November 2024 in Vienna, Austria.

70 years after the adoption of the 1954 Hague Convention, the implementation of Cultural Property Protection (CPP) within armed forces and during armed conflict still leaves room for improvement. Thus, the upcoming conference brought together civil and military experts to expound current issues regarding Cultural Heritage and Cultural Property Protection (CPP) with regards to its fundament, the 1954 Hague Convention, and discussed common challenges and possibilities for an increased, sustainable implementation of CPP within armed forces. It further emphasized the significance of tangible and intangible heritage for societies and elaborate the added value of CPP for military missions, education and training.
This event was organised by the Austrian National Defence Academy supported by UNESCO and in cooperation with the University for Continuing Education Krems, the Austrian Society for Cultural Property Protection & Blue Shield Austria.
Photos: Kotter/ÖBH
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