Our Mission and GOALS
The Blue Shield exists to advocate for the importance of cultural heritage during crisis, raising awareness of its importance and that it should be given full consideration in line with its place in international law. Based in the firm belief that cultural heritage is a vital and inseparable part of communities, and is not a luxury, we aim to be proactive in advocating for its protection.
Blue Shield’s mission and goals are delivered through six areas of activity. With respect to cultural property protection (CPP) in the event of armed conflict and natural/human-made disasters, the Blue Shield works in the areas of:
- Proactive protection and risk preparedness;
- Emergency response;
- Stabilisation, post-disaster recovery, and long-term/ongoing support activities;
- Legal compliance, policy, and their implementation;
- Capacity building activities, and education and training in support of the Blue Shield’s Areas of Activity;
- Co-ordination – of Blue Shield members and with partner organisations.
Blue Shield National Committees realise these areas of activity ...
... in the following national contexts:
- Contributing the development and delivery of plans and actions for proactive planning, emergency response, stabilisation, post-disaster recovery, and long-term/ongoing support activities at the national level, coordinating with Blue Shield International for international support as required.
- Promoting and developing understanding of the international laws which underpin the Blue Shield’s work (see the Blue Shield Approach); primarily the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two Protocols (1954, 1999), but also other international legal instruments which are part of the international cultural protection agenda as set by the UN and UNESCO. These laws are interpreted within the framework of the laws of armed conflict (LOAC), as well as international initiatives regarding environmental disaster such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Whilst national committees are guided by work at the international level, they must interpret these laws and frameworks in a national context, with reference to national legislation and policies. They promote ratification of international laws in national parliaments.
- Contributing to the development of national policies in relation to international cultural protection agendas, and promoting their implementation in national contexts.
- Interpreting Blue Shield International policy at the national level, supporting Blue Shield International in policy development, and implementing it.
- Working with partners to support capacity building activities and develop and deliver education and training materials and courses in support of the Blue Shield’s Areas of Activity at the national level.
- Co-ordinating the work of members of the Blue Shield national committees, and with national partners. Blue Shield does not work in isolation, and these include: government departments, national ministries of defence, emergency response units, and other national organisations involved in CPP, such as national committees or branches of ICA, ICOM, ICOMOS, IFLA, and the National Commissions of UNESCO.
To learn more about the activities of Blue Shield Austria visit the page Our Activities.
Ethical Principles
Blue Shield Austria, in line with the ethics of the Blue Shield, is a neutral organisation, focused on the protection of cultural heritage in armed conflicts and disasters.
Building on the firm belief that ...
... cultural heritage is inseparable from people, Blue Shield Austria puts the needs of people before the protection of Cultural Property (CP). The Blue Shield believes that the protection of CP is essentially inseparable from the protection of people and their human rights, in particular in the context of international humanitarian law, which pertains exclusively to armed conflict. In this context, the lives of active combatants, and of those who are no longer willing or able to fight, are no less paramount than the lives of civilians caught up in conflict zones. The Blue Shield understands that our commitment to the protection of human life and CP may in extremis require the loss of heritage in order to end a conflict as quickly as possible whilst minimising the loss of lives of both civilians and soldiers. In this context, the Blue Shield upholds the principles of necessity, proportionality, and humanity, which lie at the heart of IHL.
However, we also acknowledge that there are people across the world who have willingly chosen to risk their lives to protect heritage (called “Heritage heroes” by the UNOHCR Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, p19). As well as we acknowledge the risks taken by armed forces around the world, who may do likewise in line with their mission parameters.
However, we also acknowledge that there are people across the world who have willingly chosen to risk their lives to protect heritage (called “Heritage heroes” by the UNOHCR Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, p19). As well as we acknowledge the risks taken by armed forces around the world, who may do likewise in line with their mission parameters.
The Blue Shield’s commitment to protect cultural property is framed in the context of the ethical principles set out in the Blue Shield Strasbourg Charter of:
- joint action,
- independence,
- neutrality,
- professionalism,
- respect of cultural identity, and
- work on a not-for-profit basis.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
The Blue Shield’s work is founded on the belief that cultural heritage – tangible and intangible - is important. It is a vital expression of the culture that makes up unique communities and its loss during conflict and disaster can be catastrophic.
“Why do we feel more pain looking at the image of the destroyed bridge than the image of massacred people?
Perhaps because we see our own mortality in the collapse of the bridge.
We expect people to die; we count on our lives to end.
The destruction of a monument to civilisation is something else.
The bridge in all its beauty and grace was built to outline us; it was an attempt to grasp eternity …
A dead woman is one of us – but the bridge is all of us forever.”
Croatian writer Slavenka Drauliç
in Bevan (2006): The Destruction of Memory. Reaktion Books; 26
Cultural heritage is the heritage we have inherited: our legacy, our memories, physical places, objects and intangible beliefs and practices, and so much more. Intangible heritage can often be associated with particular tangible cultural heritage. For example, placing poppies on a war memorial is a practice commemorating an event, but it takes place at a physical location. In Australia, many aboriginal groups have detailed practices passed down for many generations which are integral components of places in the landscape. Our heritage – physical and non-physical – is an important part of who we are and what we identify with, for individuals and communities.
This cultural identity relies on ...
... the memory of communities and individuals: it is key to identity, well-being, decisions and actions. Although memories are not always positive, and can be contested, they are an integral part of individuals, communities and societies. Cultural property is a powerful tool in determining what is remembered – and what is forgotten or obscured. For example, after conflicts and disasters, buildings can provide visible symbols of who is given priority in rebuilding if the community is divided – or who is not given permission at all.
Blue Shield strives to prevent the loss of heritage to communities, recognising that it is a fundamental part of their wellbeing.
There are seven key reasons for this:
Blue Shield strives to prevent the loss of heritage to communities, recognising that it is a fundamental part of their wellbeing.
There are seven key reasons for this:
- Cultural/Society
- Political uses
- International Humanitarian Law
- International Human Rights Law
- Medical/wellbeing
- Sustainable economic development
- Academic value