Protection of cultural property during war: Ukraine ratifies Second Protocol to Hague Convention

The decision was supported by 321 lawmakers on April 30, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Ratification of the said Protocol will enable Ukraine to request UNESCO to provide technical assistance in the organization of the proper protection of its cultural values, preparatory, preventive or organizational measures in case of emergency, as well as to obtain additional instruments in the organization of monitoring and protection of cultural values ​​on the temporarily occupied territories," the explanatory note reads.

The law is elaborated to improve the protection of cultural property in case of an armed conflict and to create a system of enhanced protection for specially designated categories of cultural property by creating a legal basis for ensuring the protection of the cultural property through UNESCO's international technical assistance. In particular, this concerns the preparatory measures for the protection of cultural property, preventive and organizational measures in case of emergencies and the creation of national lists of cultural property, or for any other problem arising from the application of the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

The Protocol provides for the protection of cultural property in the occupied territory. In particular, Article 9 of the Protocol prohibits any illicit export, other removal or transfer of ownership of cultural property; any archaeological excavation, save where this is strictly required to safeguard, record or preserve cultural property; any alteration to, or change of use of, cultural property which is intended to conceal or destroy cultural, historical or scientific evidence.

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