The UN Security Council Adopts A Resolution Criminalizing Attacks On Cultural Heritage

Baghdad (NINA) 25, March: The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution on the destruction and looting the cultural heritage and illegal smuggling to them during the armed conflicts, proposing that States establish ad hoc bodies to combat the smuggling of materials of cultural value. "Resolution 2347, unanimously approved by the 15 members of the Council and drafted by France and Italy, condemns the destruction of cultural heritage, religious sites and artifacts, as well as the looting and smuggling of cultural property from archaeological sites, museums, archives and other sites during armed conflicts, In particular, by terrorist groups." Media sources in the UN said. The sources added, "For the first time in the history of the UN, the resolution classifies deliberate attacks on cultural heritage sites as war crimes, and in this context, gives international peacekeeping missions the authority to assist governments in ensuring the safety of cultural relics of historical or religious value. Until adapting the resolution, the peacekeeping mission working in Mali alone has such exceptional powers. " "The resolution expands the measures taken to prevent the destruction of the world heritage during armed conflict and contains a number of practical recommendations to the UN Member States, including preventive measures to protect their heritage before conflicts erupt on their territory, specially through establishing secured areas and enforce strict control over the export and import of archaeological material by issuing mandatory certificates under international standards." The sources added. "The provisions of the new UN Security Council resolution apply to all parties involved in hostilities, not only the terrorists," French Culture and Public Affairs Minister Audrey Ozoulay said./ End