The blue shield is an emblem and an association. The emblem is a protective emblem specified in the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, to be used to indicate protected cultural property, and personnel engaged in the protection of cultural property in armed conflict.
Emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention
The cultural emblem is a protective symbol used during armed conflicts. Its use is restricted by international law.
Misuse of the cultural emblem should be reported to the Red Cross.
You can download the blue shield emblem and read the guidance by visiting our Resources Section.
The Blue Shield association is a network of committees of dedicated individuals across the world that is committed to the protection of the world’s cultural property, and is concerned with the protection of cultural and natural heritage, tangible and intangible, in the event of armed conflict, natural- or human-made disaster.
(Article 2.1, Blue Shield Statutes 2016)
Learn more about the blue shield emblem, or download a copy, in our Document Library
Learn about the 1954 Hague Convention in our Law Library
Learn more about the Blue Shield association by reading Who We Are
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