In armed conflicts around the world, including the ongoing Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine; the impermissible targeting of cultural properties and religious sites has resulted in their destruction as well as the killing and maiming of innocents. Protecting cultural property during war is crucial for preserving humanity's heritage and identity. International humanitarian law, particularly the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, provides a legal framework to safeguard cultural assets such as monuments, artworks, and religious sites. This convention mandates that all feasible measures be taken to protect cultural property from destruction or theft and requires warring parties to refrain from using such sites for military purposes.
Despite these legal protections, cultural property remains vulnerable to intentional destruction, looting, and collateral damage during conflicts. To mitigate these risks, UNESCO and other international bodies work to raise awareness, implement protective measures, and facilitate the return of stolen artefacts. Protecting cultural property is not only about preserving the past but also about fostering peace, understanding, and reconciliation in post-conflict societies. This book takes a 360 view of all the relevant factors on this crucial aspect covering case studies from different parts of the world. The evolution of the legal framework for protecting cultural property is analysed in detail. Summation includes recommendations to conserve the inherited cultural property for future generations.
Umesh Chandra Jha, a military veteran, did his Ph D in Law from Jawaharlal Nehru University. His research focuses on the military legal system, international humanitarian law and human rights law and their impact on the functioning of the armed forces. His work comprises 34 books and over 150 articles published in various Journals and newspapers. His recent books include Military Operations: Legal Framework for Multi-Domain Warfare; Outer Space vs Battlespace: Emerging Domian of Warfare; Maritime Operational Law; Chinese Military Legal System, Biological Weapons: Coronavirus, Weapon of Mass Destruction? Human Rights in the Indian Armed Forces: An Analysis of Article 33, Modern Non-Lethal Weapons: Concepts, Application, Legal and Moral Perspective and Nuclear Weapons: Untangling the Societal Enigma.
Kishore Kumar Khera is an independent analyst. He served as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force for 33 years. He was a pioneer member of Composite Battle Response and Analysis (COBRA) Group and headed the Operational Planning and Analysis Group at Air Headquarters. His recent books include Combat Aviation: Flight Path 1968-2018, Nuclear Weapons: Untangling the Societal Enigma, and Military Operations: Legal Framework for Multidomain Warfare.
