On August 29, 2024, Blue Shield International was delighted to welcome Blue Shield Sweden as our 34th national committee into its global network.
This marks a significant milestone for Sweden, demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage during times of armed conflict, terrorism, and natural disasters. Blue Shield Sweden has joined the international Blue Shield network to operate in alignment with the 1954 Hague Convention and its Protocols, as well as other global initiatives dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage.
Protection of the Swedish Cultural Heritage: A Shared Responsibility
Sweden’s rich cultural heritage is a cornerstone of its national identity encompassing historical buildings, archives, libraries, museum collections, and intangible traditions. A wealth of cultural treasures, from UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Drottningholm Palace and the medieval town of Visby, to intangible cultural practices such as for example oral folklore storytelling traditions, the Sámi tradition of joik and midsummer celebrations. Protecting these assets is not only a national obligation but also a contribution to humanity’s shared cultural heritage.
While Sweden traditionally has experienced a relatively stable and secure position, the rising global instability has made it evident that all nations must take more proactive measures to protect their cultural assets. The ongoing process to rebuild a strong Swedish total defense and becoming a member of NATO has put light to both the importance and obligations regarding cultural heritage protection. Blue Shield Sweden wishes to contribute to the ongoing efforts by raising the general awareness about cultural heritage as an essential part of the humanitarian international law, and its significance for the resilience of society in times of crisis. This initiative aligns with Blue Shield’s global mission to mitigate risks to cultural heritage from natural disasters and armed conflicts.
Strengthening International Collaboration
As a member of Blue Shield International, Blue Shield Sweden will benefit from a robust network of expertise and support. The committee also wishes to contribute and will collaborate with international partners to share best practices, develop innovative approaches, and take part in coordinated efforts to address cultural heritage-related crises.
Among its early initiatives, Blue Shield Sweden has the ambition to enhance the skills of cultural heritage professionals through training programs in disaster preparedness and cultural restoration. These efforts will be carried out in collaboration with different national partners to ensure that Swedish professionals are equipped with the necessary tools to protect the cultural heritage within their institutions.
A Vision for the Future
The establishment of Blue Shield Sweden highlights Sweden’s dedication to cultural heritage protection as an integral component of national defense and international responsibility. By working alongside local, regional, and international actors, the committee strives to preserve Sweden’s cultural legacy for future generations while contributing to global cultural dialogue.
The Swedish Team so far
The establishment and early activities of Blue Shield Sweden have been made possible by the dedicated efforts of the Swedish working group and interim Board, which for now serves as the formal Board.
The team includes the following members:
- Helene Rånlund and Carl L. Thunberg (ICOM)
- Malin Myrin and Marcus Bengtsson (ICOMOS)
- Johanna Fries-Markiewicz (National Archives of Sweden for ICA)
- Greger Bergvall (National Library of Sweden for IFLA)
- Akram Ijla (Uppsala University, Cultural Heritage in Conflict)
The Commitee are currently inviting new members to expand their work.
The committee is registered as a Swedish non-governmental organization (NGO) as of 2024-12-10 (Swedish Tax Authority) with organization number 802549-5170.
Hear from the Committee
Meet Helene Rånlund, elected chair until an extraordinary annual meeting is held in the spring 2025, as she introduced the National Committee at the Blue Shield 2024 Conference.
Welcome, Blue Shield Sweden!
