Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict

After many years hard work and campaigning, the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict finally came into force on 9 March. The Protocol greatly strengthens and clarifies cultural protection and introduces new measures including the designation of cultural property under enhanced protection, specific war crimes, and new administrative procedures including the establishment of an international committee and international fund for the protection of culture. The Second Protocol is not retrospective in respect of events before this date and initially is it is binding only on, and between, those states that have adopted it by ratification or accession. The list of states parties (ie countries that have agreed to be bound by) to the Second Protocol is on the UNESCO website at: http://www.unesco.org/culture/laws/hague/images/2plist.doc [MS Word, 45KB]

Australia is NOT included as a signatory.

A a