UK Government confirms intention to ratify convention on cultual property in conflict
The UK Government has in a letter to the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) reiterated its commitment to ratify the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries said in his letter:
I can confirm that this Government agrees that protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict is a priority. Like the previous government, we are committed to introducing legislation to ratify the Convention and accede to its two Protocols when Parliamentary time allows, taking into account of all our legislative priorities.”
While the Minister did not specify when he expected a bill be put to Parliament, he said: “I am aware that the Draft Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill was welcomed by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee, which found it to be strongly supported on the basis of the evidence it received and considered that the ratification of the Convention will strengthen our commitment to the protection of our own heritage and highlight our respect for the cultural property of other nations. The Bill remains in a good state of readiness for introduction and could be introduced as either a stand-alone Bill or as part of another Bill”.
The letter from the Minister was in reply to a letter sent to the Prime Minister in October signed by the UKNC and eleven other culture and heritage organisations. The letter urged the government to ratify the Convention at the earliest possible opportunity. The UKNC will be taking forward discussions with the Minister regarding the timetable and structure of a bill to ratify the Convention.
This initiative is part of the UKNC’s wider work on the 1954 Hague Convention and the impact of armed conflict on cultural heritage. The UK is now the most significant military power not to have ratified this convention. In February 2010, the UKNC together with twelve other culture and heritage organisations gave written evidence to the Iraq Inquiry regarding the problems faced by British forces with respect to safeguarding the cultural heritage in Iraq during the invasion and occupation by Coalition forces in 2003. The evidence found that shortcomings in the UK’s planning and implementation of the 2003 Iraq invasion and occupation led to a fundamental failure to protect Iraq’s cultural property.
Written: 29/11/2010 , last modified: 30/11/2010
