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.