Meetings on 1954 Hague Convention and its 1999 Second Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict

The second meeting of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1999 Second Protocol), the seventh meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the second meeting of the Parties to the Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention will take place from 17-20 December in Room XI at UNESCO headquarters (Fontenoy building) in Paris.

The exact dates of the three meetings are as follows:

• Second meeting of the Committee: 17-19 December 2007 from 9:30am to 6 pm
• Seventh meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the 1954 Hague Convention: 20 December 2007 from 9:30am to 1pm
• Second meeting of States Parties to the Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention: 20 December 2007 from 3 pm to 6 pm

The main purpose of the Committee meeting will be to consider a new version of the Draft Guidelines for the Implementation of the Second Protocol. This document has been prepared on the basis of a previous document drafted by the Bureau of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Vienna August 2007) and drafting amendments and comments received from the following seven UNESCO member states: Canada, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Japan, Mexico and the Netherlands) and the International Council of Museums. States not members of the Committee may attend the Committee meeting as observers.

The Committee will also consider the three additional chapters on dissemination and monitoring of the implementation of the Second Protocol, prepared by Finland and international assistance, prepared by the Secretariat.

The meeting of the Parties to the Second Protocol will elect six members of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. As of 23 November 2007, the following six states have presented candidatures: Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Japan, Lithuania and the Netherlands. States not yet party to the 1954 Hague Convention or its 1999 Protocol may assist in the 20 December 2007 meetings as observers.