CONFERENCE “CULTURAL PROPERTY PROTECTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY: MEETING REQUIREMENTS ACROSS THE FORCES” in Vienna

From 11 to 13 November 2024, the international conference “Cultural Property Protection in the 21st Century: Meeting Requirements across the Forces” took place at the National Defence Academy in Vienna. The event brought together 100 civilian and military experts from numerous countries to focus on the importance of Cultural Property Protection, especially for armed forces. 

​The conference was opened by Lieutenant General Erich Csitkovits and Defence Secretary General Dr. Arnold Kammel. Federal Minister of Defence Klaudia Tanner and UNESCO Deputy Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone Ramírez, contributed opening words with video messages.

The CPP Conference addressed key topics such as the high value of tangible and intangible heritage for societies and armed forces, the legal basis in the event of conflict, and the destruction of cultural property as a war strategy. Special attention was given to the training and implementation of Cultural Heritage Protection within the armed forces and in (civilian) military operations. 

​Another focus was on the consideration of new technologies – Deputy Secretary General Anna Puhr hosted a Roundtable to explore possible synergies between artificial intelligence and military technologies for the protection of cultural heritage.

The international conference was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1954 “Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict” and as part of the official UNESCO anniversary activities. It was organised by the Austrian National Defence Academy with the support of UNESCO and in cooperation with the University for Continuing Education Krems, the Austrian Society for the Protection of Cultural Property, and Blue Shield Austria.

++ Photos: ÖBH ++