1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict

The Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict was adopted at The Hague (Netherlands) in 1954 in the wake of massive destruction of cultural heritage during the Second World War.  It is the first international treaty with a worldwide vocation focusing exclusively on the protection of cultural heritage in the event of armed conflict.

This Convention is an international cooperation framework against the illicit trafficking of cultural property requiring States Parties to take preventative measures and adhere to restitution provisions. It covers immovable and movable cultural heritage, including monuments of architecture, art or history, archaeological sites, works of art, manuscripts, books and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest, as well as scientific collections of all kinds regardless of their origin or ownership.

Read the full text of the Convention.