This study examines how cultural heritage can be better protected from the effects of armed conflicts, in Ukraine and beyond. It includes an analysis of the applicable international law and policy frameworks and the practice of key international actors in Ukraine, as well as in past conflicts. It concludes with a set of specific recommendations to the EU and its Member States to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage from the effects of armed conflicts, now and in the future.

In this article, Juliette Raoul-Duval reviews the international heritage protection mechanisms and presents an overview of the threats to heritage in Ukraine as the war drags on, and the role of ICOM, its national committees and their partners in helping Ukrainian museum professionals.

Proposal for amendment submitted by several Member States regarding UNESCO's emergency assistance and support program for Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion. It highlights the recognition of the measures adopted so far and urges Member States to continue supporting them with additional voluntary contributions. Furthermore, the importance of assessing the situation and taking relevant measures, as well as ensuring the effective implementation of UNESCO's emergency assistance programme, is emphasized.

Decisions adopted by the Executive Council of UNESCO at its 7th extraordinary session after examining the impact and consequences of the current situation in Ukraine on all aspects of the mandate.

Summary records of the 7th Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Council of Unesco to examine the impact and consequences of the current situation in Ukraine on all aspects of the mandate.

The document is a joint statement by leaders and representatives of several countries and international organizations that participated in the URC2022 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, Switzerland, in July 2022. In the statement, they condemn the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine , express their full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, recognize the devastating impact of the conflict on Ukraine and the international community, and highlight the importance of the conference as the beginning of Ukraine's recovery process.

Ukraine Recovery Plan 2022

At its 14th (UNESCO, 2019) and 15th (UNESCO, 2020) sessions, the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict ("the Committee") provided international financial assistance from the Protection Fund of Cultural Assets. Assets in case of armed conflict (“the Fund”), respectively, to Burkina Faso (Decision 14.COM 7), Barbados and Mexico (Decision 15.COM 9) to implement preparatory measures for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict.

The Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (hereinafter “the Committee”), at its second extraordinary meeting (UNESCO, March 18, 2022), adopted Decision 2 EXT.COM 4, entitled “Assistance international emergency to Ukraine”, requested the Secretariat to provide all necessary assistance for the implementation of emergency measures under the Second Protocol of 1999 and to report to the Committee at its 17th meeting in 2022.

On October 10, Victoria Amelina, a prize winning author, sent out a series of urgent tweets. “I’m in Kyiv and alive,” she started off, explaining that she was filming Russian strikes on Kyiv as best as she could. She tweeted out a list of the buildings damaged or destroyed during the attack, including the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the Khanenko Museum, Kyiv Picture Gallery, National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Maksymovych Scientific Library, and Kyiv City Teacher’s House. Her anguish at these losses and her understanding of why they had been targeted was crystal clear: “I know they want us, Ukrainian writers, to disappear . . . they target Ukrainian culture.”