1. RAPPORT
UNESCO WHC
Heritage is the thread that connects people spiritually, culturally, religiously, and
physically to each other, and to a common set of history, traditions, and monuments.
Without our heritage, we would lose an irreplaceable chapter of our history and an
indispensable part of our rich human story.
Back in 1972, various international bodies united to draw up the World Heritage
Convention. Strongly emphasizing the importance of international co-operation, the
Convention serves as an effective tool in addressing the contemporary challenges
that seem to be a threat to the natural and cultural sites. Retrospectively, it can be
said that protecting the heritage of mankind has become a concern of all people.
Globalisation has internationalized the Convention and at the same time has led to
the protection of our cultural and natural heritage.
Nowadays, we are witnessing the brutal contamination of the world culture by many
extremist groups who attempt to achieve their political goals by ignoring the
importance of cultural heritage and devastating the sites that symbolize the cultural
diversity and different traditions.
A solution to this problem is of the crucial importance for the world we live in, and the
path we must follow while seeking the regulation of the protection of the world
heritage in the armed conflict, are the most significant documents in this area.
Regarding that, the document that gives the legal framework of the field of protection
of the cultural heritage is the Convention for the protection of cultural property in the
event of armed conflict, adopted in Hague in 1954.
As of 2015, there were 48 properties on the endangered list, many in war-torn parts of
the world, such as Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. The sites that have been reacently
included in the UNESCO's list of endangered heritage sites ,alerts the international
community to the need for increased vigilance and efforts to preserve and qualifies
the site for increased UNESCO funding.
Actions of the Islamic State that led to destruction of the sites in Syria and Iraq, which
represent the roots of these two civilizations, are considered as a war crime by
UNESCO. So far, 9 out of 10 World Heritage sites in Syria and Iraq are in danger.
Palmyra has suffered extreme destruction since it was taken under control of ISIS in
May 2015. By now, the Lion of Al-lāt, Temple of Ball Shamin, Temple of Bell and the
Arch of Triumph have been completely demolished by the IS militants. Also, there are
not less important endangered Iraqi sites such as fortress city of Hatra, Nimrud and
Mosul Museum. As the response to the threat to the World Heritage Sites in Syria and

2. Iraq, Security Council has adopted the Resolution 2199 in February 2015. This
resolution provides for a range of tools, including sanctions and other binding
measures, to degrade these terrorist organizations' ability to carry out brutal attacks.
It is very important to underline other agressions against cultural and historical sites
by religious extremists, that are equally significant. In 2012, Muslim extremists in Mali
were plundering the tombs and other sites sacred to Sufis in Timbuktu, “the city of 33
saints”, which was strongly condemned by UNESCO. Also, as a result of the political
crisis caused by separatists in Kosovo, 156 Serbian monasteries and churches, were
destroyed between 1999 and 2004, and this acts of aggression are still ongoing. And
finally, as an example of threat to the World Heritage which dates back to 2001, we
should bear in mind the case of the demolition of Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan.
These monumentual statues were destroyed by dynamite, after the Talibans have
issued a special edict ordering the destruction of all non-Islamic statues.
The role of international organizations, as of all individual states, is that through
mutual cooperation and appropriate financial assistance , as well as joint Action
Plans, find efficient and long-term solution to this global threat. It is of great relevance
to understand the enormous significance of this issue and that, accordingly , the
members of the international community agree on the most important points that
could lead to a solution to this growing problem , which may jeopardize the
civilizational identity of the whole human race.
Mia Bjelogrlic