International engagement for the protection of cultural heritage in the Syrian conflict

Puskás, Anna [Puskás, Anna (biztonságpolitika), author] HDI (UPS / HHK)

English Conference paper (Chapter in Book) Scientific
    Subjects:
    • Arab countries (incl. North Africa)
    • Violence, conflict and conflict resolution
    • Cultural heritage, cultural memory
    • Heritage preservation
    In recent years, the deliberate targeting of cultural heritage in armed conflicts has been receiving a bigger attention than ever before. Although the phenomenon is not new, the international shock and outrage provoked by the systematic and widely broadcasted iconoclastic destruction and large-scale looting perpetrated by ISIL (also known as Daesh or Islamic State) after expanding its control over territories with a rich millennial heritage in Iraq and Syria, led to an increasing international awareness about the need of an efficient protection regime. The present paper seeks to collect and analyse the political decisions and measures takenby different international organisations (especially UN Security Council, UNESCO) and the proactive role of certain states (particularly France, Italy) in influencing the international agenda primarily in reaction to the violent acts of ISIL against cultural heritage, arguing that there is a stronger political commitment than ever before at an international level for establishing effective norms as well as institutional, financial and military tools as regards prevention, mitigation and retribution for preserving the cultural heritage of humanity in times of armed conflicts, raising the field gradually to the international security agenda at the same time.
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    2025-02-08 16:38