Canada Joins International Convention on Protection of Cultural Property in Times of Armed Conflict
OTTAWA, March 10, 1999 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps and Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton announced today that Canada has joined the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The announcement was made in conjunction with Canada's participation in a diplomatic conference which will take place in the Hague, Netherlands from March 15 to March 26, 1999. The conference will consider a new protocol to the Convention aimed at increasing its effectiveness.The Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is known as the 1954 Hague Convention. The Convention provides measures to prevent the damage, theft or destruction of cultural property and is regarded as one of the most important components of the international effort to protect cultural heritage. Property protected by the Convention includes items of artistic, historical, scientific or other cultural value, whether religious or secular, such as historic monuments, works of art or scientific collections and the premises where they are housed, such as museums, archives and libraries, and designated areas in important historic cities or archaeological zones.
"For many years, Canada has played an important international role in the preservation and protection of cultural property and we are proud to formally join the Hague Convention at this time," said Minister Copps. "Canada recognizes the importance of cultural heritage to our national identity and supports the basic principle of the Convention, that damage to cultural property belonging to any country diminishes the cultural heritage of all countries."
"Given our role in peacekeeping throughout the world, Canada's accession to the Hague Convention illustrates the respect that Canada's millitary maintains toward cultural property during times of armed conflict," said Minister Eggleton.
Though not a formal member of the Convention until December 1998, the Canadian government and many Canadian heritage-related organizations have worked in support of the agreement and have participated in projects to increase its effectiveness. Canada's participation in the December 1998 Washington Conference on Holocaust Assets is an example of Canada's ongoing involvement in the area of cultural property protection.
Information:
Catherine Gagnaire
Communications Assistant
Department of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Media Liaison Office
Department of National Defence
(613) 996-2353
BACKGROUNDER
THE HAGUE CONVENTION
The UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954), known as the Hague Convention, was developed in response to concern over destruction of cultural property, including monuments, museums, libraries and archival repositories, during World War II. The Convention is based on the principle that damage done to cultural property belonging to any country diminishes the cultural heritage of all countries, and seeks to provide for the most effective protection possible for such property in times of armed conflict. It is regarded as one of the most important components of the international effort to protect cultural heritage.
In peaceful times, the Convention prescribes proactive measures such as the identification and distinctive marking of significant property. In the event of armed conflict it brings into force measures to prevent the damage, theft or destruction of cultural property.
The Convention applies to three broad categories of "cultural property":
--Immovable and movable items of artistic, historic, scientific or other cultural value, whether religious or secular, such as historic monuments, works of art or scientific collections;
--Premises used for the housing of movable cultural property, such as museums, archives and libraries;
--"Centres containing monuments" such as designated areas in important historic cities or archaeological zones.
Protection is also offered under the Convention to temporary wartime shelters for cultural property, to authorized means of emergency transport of cultural property in times of hostilities, and to authorized specialist personnel engaged in the protection of cultural property.
A total of 93 countries are currently States Parties to the Hague Convention, and 78 of those countries are also States Parties to the Protocol to the Convention.
Canada's commitment to the underlying principles of the Hague Convention is already well established. The Hague Convention complements two other UNESCO international conventions concerning protection of cultural heritage to which Canada is already a State Party: the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970) and the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).
[ Media Room ]
