​​1954 Hague Convention and “Blue Shield” emblem: UN cultural agency moves to protect Ukraine’s heritage sites

What is the News?

UNESCO is in contact with Ukrainian authorities to mark cultural sites and monuments with the distinctive “Blue Shield” emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict to avoid deliberate or accidental damages.

What is the 1954 Hague Convention?

The convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict also known as the Hague Convention was adopted in 1954 under the auspices of UNESCO.

Aim: To protect cultural property such as monuments of architecture, art or history, archaeological sites, works of art, manuscripts, books and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest, as well as scientific collections of any kind regardless of their origin or ownership.

Significance: It is the first and the most comprehensive multilateral treaty dedicated exclusively to the protection of cultural heritage in times of peace as well as during an armed conflict.

India is a party to this convention.

What is Blue Shield?

Blue Shield was founded in 1996. It is an independent, neutral, non-governmental, non-profit, international organization which strives to protect heritage during armed conflicts and disasters across the world.

This includes all forms of cultural property including museums, monuments, archaeological sites, archives, libraries and audiovisual material, and significant natural areas, as well as intangible heritage.

The 1954 Hague Convention designates an emblem for a cultural property that should be protected, and for identification of those working to protect it. The Blue Shield organization took up the emblem of the Convention as a symbol of their protective work, set in a blue circular background. 

Source: This post is based on the article “​​UN cultural agency moves to protect Ukraine’s heritage sites” published in Indian Express on 12th Mar 2022.