BSI Supports Ukraine

Following the statement issued by BSI on the conflict in Ukraine, the President attended a number of meetings in Paris to support cultural property protection activity in Ukraine. In coordination with the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, BSI has investigated options to recommend cultural property to be put under Enhanced Protection, as is its right under Article 11.3 of the 1999 Second Protocol of the Hague Convention. Enhanced Protection applications are considered by to the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The Chair of the Committee stressed the strength of getting sites under Enhanced Protection as anyone who has damaged cultural property, or allowed damage to take place, could be prosecuted in any of the 85 countries who have ratified the Second Protocol. On 18 March 2022, the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the protection of cultural heritage in the course of ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine, which the President attended. However, it has not yet been possible to place sites under Enhanced Protection as an emergency measure due to the complexities of the conflict.

The President further requested that international pressure be placed on the UN for a General Assembly Resolution either mentioning cultural property protection (CPP) or specifically about CPP. He also presented to numerous staff from 25-30 Permanent Delegations to UNESCO on cultural property protection whilst in Paris.

Blue Shield International supports the UNESCO Expert Group for the Safeguarding of Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage, and is coordinating closely with ICOMOS, ICOM, IFLA, and ICA to share information from our national committees.

Blue Shield International is also arranging support for requests for conservation materials with Cultural Emergency Response.

The Secretariat supported a request to assist with shipment tracking, and have created a system to do this, via a simple form that can be completed by anyone intending to send conservation shipments, and prevent duplication of responses. The data in the form is intended to:

1. get an overview of which requests have been / are being answered, and by whom;
2. what conservation materials are being sent;
3. where they are going;
4. by which routes (to provide assistance to those intending to send materials).

The form can be found here.

The President also spoke at a special briefing for the UK Parliament on the safeguarding of cultural property (CP) in Ukraine.

Blue Shield International also provided guidance on emergency evacuation of collections.

– Download the guidance in English: Blue Shield Guide to Emergency Evacuation

– Завантажити інструкцію українською мовою: Blue-Shield-Emergency-evacuation_UKRAINE