Accession by Ukraine to the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague, 26 March 1999)
On 30 June 2020, Ukraine deposited with the Director-General its instrument of accession of the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
The letter of transmission of this instrument contained the following request:
“The Law of Ukraine "On the Accession of Ukraine to the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict" was adopted by the Verkhovna Ràda of Ukraine on 30 April 2020.
According to this Law, Ukraine applies Article 44 "Entry into force in situations of armed conflict'' of the Second Protocol.
Therefore, the Second Protocol will enter into force for Ukraine immediately after the instrument of accession is deposited to the Director-General of UNESCO.”
Article 44 reads as follows:
“The situations referred to in Articles 18 and 19 of the Convention shall give immediate effect to ratifications, acceptances or approvals of or accessions to this Protocol deposited by the parties to the conflict either before or after the beginning of hostilities or occupation. In such cases the Director-General shall transmit the communications referred to in Article 46 by the speediest method.”
In accordance with the terms of its Article 44, the date of entry into force of this Protocol with respect to Ukraine is 30 June 2020.
