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The Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict

Original organic materials discovered among debris, Bamiyan, Afghanistan ©UNESCO

The Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (“the Fund”) was established to provide financial or other assistance for preparatory or other measures to be taken in peacetime. It also aims to provide financial or other assistance in relation to emergency, provisional or other measures to protect cultural property during periods of armed conflict, or for immediate recovery after the end of hostilities.

Contributions to the Fund are entirely voluntary and are usually made by States, international and non-governmental organizations, and public and private bodies or individuals. If you wish - as a State, public institution, foundation or individual - to make a donation, please contact the Secretariat by clicking here.

The Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (“the Committee”) decides on how the Fund is to be used. Resources of the Fund coming from contributions earmarked for certain programmes or projects can be used for these programmes or projects, provided that the Committee has decided to implement them.

Under paragraph 121 of the Guidelines for the Implementation of the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention, the Committee's decisions on granting international assistance may be guided by the following considerations, among others:

  • The likelihood of assistance acting as a catalyst and multiplier (“seed money”) and promoting financial and technical contributions from other sources;
  • The recipient’s legislative, administrative and, wherever possible, financial commitment to the activity;
  • The exemplary value of the activity; and,
  • The cost-effectiveness of the activity.

When applications for international assistance are being considered, priority is given to emergency requests and requests of a preventive nature. Emergency measures are the highest priority.

The Committee also takes into account the special needs of States Parties that are developing countries when deciding on use of the Fund.

REQUEST FORM FOR THE GRANTING OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

In accordance with Article 32 of the 1999 Second Protocol, only the State Party to the Protocol and party to the conflict, which is not a Party to the Protocol, may request financial assistance from the Fund.

To request financial assistance for cultural property from the Committee, the States Parties to the 1999 Second Protocol may download and submit the following form.

EXAMPLES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE FUND

Libya

In 2016, the Committee granted US $50,000 to Libya for emergency measures to ensure the adequate protection of the cultural property concerned and to prevent their deterioration, destruction or looting.

Mali

A sum of US $40,500 was granted as emergency assistance to Mali in December 2012 by the Committee with the main aim of protecting cultural property in the north of the country and making an appraisal of the situation. During the 11th Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, in 2016, US $ 40,000 was granted to Mali related to the request for the granting of enhanced protection for the Tomb of Askia submitted by the Malian authorities.

El Salvador

A sum of US $23,500 was granted to El Salvador in December 2011 by the Committee for the purpose of publicizing the Blue Shield emblem and its role and identifying cultural property to be placed under its protection in the event of armed conflict.

To learn more about the Fund, please click here to download the brochure.

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