This book aims to determine UNESCO's capability to facilitate heritage protection measures pre-conflict, emergency response measures during conflict and reconstruction efforts post-conflict. The book employs document analysis to ascertain UNESCO's legal obligations when it comes to facilitating cultural heritage protection in its Member States' territories in the condition of armed conflict, while drawing comparisons with the reality of the organisation's presence and involvement in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. This study maps shifts in UNESCO's level of communication with each country's respective government and civil authorities; allocation of financial, human and material resources; and implementation of heritage safeguarding and reconstruction initiatives. Both quantitative and qualitative data shows UNESCO to exhibit great inequity in engagement, at times, closing communications entirely with Syria, due to the political standpoints of other UNESCO Member States. This political gridlock is often shown to result in the organisation overstating its ability to safeguard or restore heritage, with promises not being followed up with action. Since 2015, UNESCO has expressed a stronger intent to be a key player in heritage protection during armed conflict, however as long as cultural heritage protection is not considered a humanitarian concern, UNESCO will not be able to circumvent much of the political and bureaucratic barriers facing intergovernmental organisations during conflict, which prevent emergency action from being implemented. In order to ensure heritage safeguarding is permitted during periods of significant unrest, regardless of political discord, it is crucial that UNESCO promote a people-centred approach to its cultural heritage protection initiatives. This book evidences that focusing on livelihoods and meaningful and practical connections between populations and their local heritage to be UNESCO's optimal methodological approach for justifying cultural heritage protection as a humanitarian necessity. The book's readership includes academics, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of political science, law and heritage studies.
Author(s): Joanne Dingwall McCafferty
Series: Studies in Art, Heritage, Law and the Market, 8
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 280
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Where Conflict and Culture Connect
1.1 The Importance of Cultural Heritage Protection
1.2 The Relationship Between Conflict and Cultural Heritage
1.2.1 Intentional Targeting of Cultural Heritage
1.2.2 Cultural Heritage as Collateral Damage
References
Chapter 2: UNESCO´s Legal Obligation and Capability to Protect Cultural Heritage During Armed Conflict
2.1 The UNESCO 1945 Constitution
2.2 The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and Its Two Protocols (19...
2.3 The 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
2.4 UNESCO´s 2015 Strategy: Reinforcement of UNESCO´s Action for the Protection of Culture and the Promotion of Cultural Plura...
2.5 UNESCO´s Capability: Culture in Armed Conflict
2.5.1 UNESCO´s Financial Resources: Culture in Armed Conflict
2.5.2 UNESCO´s Human Resources: Culture in Armed Conflict
References
Chapter 3: The State Heritage Institutions of Yemen, Syria and Iraq
3.1 State Heritage Institution Capabilities
3.1.1 Yemen: State Heritage Institution Capability
3.1.2 Syria: State Heritage Institution Capability
3.1.3 Iraq: State Heritage Institution Capability
3.2 The Yemeni Conflict
3.2.1 Yemeni Cultural Heritage: Intentional Targeting and Collateral Damage
3.3 The Syrian Conflict
3.3.1 Syrian Cultural Heritage: Intentional Targeting and Collateral Damage
3.4 The Iraqi Conflict
3.4.1 Iraqi Cultural Heritage: Intentional Targeting and Collateral Damage
References
Chapter 4: The Impact of Conflict on UNESCO´s Engagement with Yemen, Syria and Iraq
4.1 World Heritage Centre Profile Analysis
4.1.1 UNESCO´s Engagement with Yemen: World Heritage Centre Profile
4.1.2 UNESCO´s Engagement with Syria: World Heritage Centre Profile
4.1.3 UNESCO´s Engagement with Iraq: World Heritage Centre Profile
4.1.4 Data Comparison: Yemen, Syria and Iraq
4.2 The Effect of Conflict on UNESCO´s Ability to Engage with Key National Counterparts
4.2.1 UNESCO´s Relationship with GOAM and GOPCHY
4.2.2 UNESCO Field Office for Yemen
4.2.3 UNESCO´s Relationship with DGAM
4.2.4 UNESCO Field Office for Syria
4.2.5 Collective Discussion on UNESCO Offices for Yemen and Syria
4.2.6 UNESCO´s Relationship with SBAH
4.2.7 UNESCO Field Office for Iraq
4.3 Conclusions
References
Chapter 5: UNESCO´s Emergency Response ``First-Aid´´ to Cultural Heritage Sites
5.1 Preparedness vs. Emergency Response
5.2 Yemen: Emergency Response ``First-Aid´´
5.3 Syria: Emergency Response ``First-Aid´´
5.4 Iraq: Emergency Response ``First-Aid´´
5.5 Emergency Response ``First Aid´´ Conclusions
References
Chapter 6: UNESCO´s Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage Sites
6.1 Defining Reconstruction and Recovery
6.2 Yemen: Reconstruction
6.2.1 Cash for Work Project
6.2.2 Prioritisation Methodology
6.2.3 Implementation
6.3 Syria: Reconstruction
6.3.1 Ancient City of Aleppo
6.3.2 Site of Palmyra
6.3.3 Crac Des Chevaliers and Qal´at Salah El-Din
6.3.4 Ancient City of Damascus
6.3.5 Ancient City of Bosra
6.3.6 Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
6.4 Iraq: Reconstruction
6.4.1 Revive the Spirit of Mosul
6.4.2 Ashur (Qal´at Sherqat)
6.4.3 Babylon
6.4.4 Erbil Citadel
6.4.5 Hatra
6.4.6 Samarra Archaeological City
6.5 Reconstruction Conclusions
References
Chapter 7: Conclusions
References
