International Register of Cultural Property under Special Protection
The ‘International Register of Cultural Property under Special Protection’ is a special register maintained by the Director-General of UNESCO of cultural property granted 'Special Protection' under the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict.
Special protection represents a higher level of protection in comparison with the general protection derived from Article 1 of the Convention concerning all cultural property falling within its scope, irrespective of origin or ownership. Special protection may be granted to a limited number of:
- Refuges intended to shelter movable cultural property in the event of armed conflict;
- Centres containing monuments; and,
- Other immovable cultural property of very great importance.
The granting of special protection is subject to essentially two conditions: the cultural property in question must be situated at an adequate distance from any large industrial centre or from any important military objective constituting a vulnerable point; and such property may not be used for military purposes.