PROCULTHER-NET joins the Celebrations and invites new stakeholders to feed into the knowledge processes within the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network. Here are just a few of the numerous initiatives promoted by the project to address the challenges arising from new emerging risks and reinforce disaster preparedness capacities at national and European level.
The year 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict providing the global community with the opportunity to explore the future orientations of the 1954 Hague Convention and its two Protocols (1954 and 1999).
From 13-15 May 2024, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will launch the celebrations foreseen across the globe throughout this year with the International Conference “Cultural Heritage and Peace: Building on 70 years of UNESCO Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict”.
The 1954 Convention was the first international legal framework entirely dedicated to the protection of movable and immovable heritage, setting a precedent for the preservation of heritage in international humanitarian law. This landmark event to take place in The Haguewill bring together diverse stakeholders involved in the protection of cultural heritage, to take stock of the achievements, challenges and lessons learned along the journey towards the effective implementation of this international treaty.
PROCULTHER-NET the Protecting Cultural Heritage from the Consequences of Disasters-Network project will join these celebrations and will be at the Networking Agora, organized in parallel to the Conference with the aim to provide a space where UNESCO and its main partners can interact to foster global collaboration, advance innovative solutions, and enhance advocacy and awareness in this field.
The Agora will be divided in three areas: the UNESCO zone hosting relevant projects, tools and collaborative initiatives undertaken by the UN agency, also to raise awareness about the ratification processes; the Good Practice zone dedicated to preparedness, emergency response and recovery; and the Tech & Act: Solutions for the Future zone showcasing new technology-based approaches and stories of resilience.
The project will bring to the Agora the knowledge and tools developed within PROCULTHER (2019-2021) and PROCULTHER-NET (2022-2023) and unveil the forthcoming actions foreseen within the current initiative PROCULTHER-NET 2 (2024-2025). This ongoing phase aims at consolidating the inclusion of the protection of cultural heritage at risk sector in the UCPM processes and structures, to increase disaster preparedness capacities and knowledge at European and national levels.
Experts who will approach the PROCULTHER-NET booth in the Good Practice zone will find out more on the project actions and how to contribute in strengthening the thematic community dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage at risk within the UCPKN.
The dedicated booth will feature audio-visual material produced by the project to introduce visitors to the approach and activities carried out from 2019 to this day, while interested experts may request a copy of the main technical documents produced by PROCULTHER and PROCULTHER-NET: e.g., the “Key Elements of a European Methodology to Address the Protection of Cultural Heritage during Emergencies” and the Technical Bulletins issued in March 2023 and in June 2023.
In the coming months, still in the framework of the Hague Convention celebrations, PROCULTHER-NET will also contribute to the network meeting entitled “Milestones & ways to go for cultural property protection 70 years of the Hague Convention” to take place at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU in Brussels on 2 July 2024. The symposium - jointly organized by the German Society for Cultural Property Protection e.V., the Swiss Society for Cultural Property Protection, Blue Shield Austria, Blue Shield Germany & the Fraunhofer Society, under the patronage of the Austrian Embassy to Belgium, supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum - will gather experts from EU institutions, countries representatives, the military, civil protection and cultural heritage protection interest groups, as well as professional associations, and organizations from related disciplines.
The presentations delivered and the panel discussions will lead participants to agree on the official recommendations to be delivered to the newly elected EU Parliament for a more extensive and comprehensive legal integration and operational execution of The Hague Convention and cultural heritage protection in general into the EU.