What is Cultural Property Protection? Panel

This panel explores the question "What is cultural property protection?"

As part of the Blue Shield 25th anniversary celebrations, the UK National Committee of the Blue Shield joined with the British army Cultural Property Protection Unit to host a free virtual panel discussion to explore "What is Cultural Property Protection?"

The last 30 years have seen a continual increase in cultural property protection, following the wars of Yugoslav succession in the 1990s, and the ensuing creation of the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. A decade of conflict in the Middle East and North Africa has resulted in a new wave of ratifications for this important legislation and its uptake into various civil and military agendas. Cultural property protection is now recognised as part of, or discussed in relation to, the laws of armed conflict, human security and the protection of civilians, peace and security, prevention of terrorist financing, international relations, and the responsibility to protect, amongst others. Yet, a recent Report* by Blue Shield International and the Nordic Center for Cultural Heritage and Armed Conflict noted:
“The concept of CPP is unclear and varies across organizations and expert communities. This confusion of ends, means and relevant authorities stands as a key barrier for setting priorities and allocating resources.”
This panel asks what – in all these areas – does CPP mean, and what does it look like? What are the differences and what makes it unique? Are some aspects more relevant than others, and why? Is it one thing to all people, or has the field now advanced to the point where “cultural property protection” is no longer a catch all term, but one which must be defined in the contexts it is used in?


Join key leaders in British CPP to explore what it means to them in their work today.
• Legal Advisor, 77th Brigade, British Army
• Cmdr Roger Curtis, UK Cultural Property Protection Unit
• Captain Timothée Le Berre, Deputy Director of the French Army Heritage
• Dr Michael Delacruz, Secretariat, Blue Shield International
• Stephen Stenning, Head, Arts and Society, British Council
• Harriet Hoffler, Head of International Cultural Protection, Cultural Diplomacy, Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

13 October 2021

*https://theblueshield.org/cpp-global-...