Flyer of discussions and conferences on the UN issues at UN Office at Geneva Library, Switzerland, Feb 2015

1. UN Library Talks Geneva
Thursday 5 February 2015
4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Followed by a reception
Library Events Room (B-135)
Palais des Nations, Building B, 1st Floor
www.unog.ch/librarytalks
Silent Victims of War:
Cultural Heritage at Risk
The case of Syria seen through UNOSAT satellite imagery analysis
Invitees not in possession of a UN badge should register on the UNOG website
at www.unog.ch/librarytalks, bring a valid ID and a copy of this invitation on the day of the event
to the Pregny Gate, located at 8 - 14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10.
For directions to the venue, click here
Welcome Remarks:
Ruth Hahn-Weinert, Officer-in-Charge, UNOG Library
Speakers:
Einar Bjørgo, UNOSAT Manager
Vittorio Mainetti, University of Geneva
Blandine Blukacz-Louisfert, Chief, Institutional Memory Section,
UNOG Library
Giovanni Boccardi, Head, Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit,
Culture Sector, UNESCO
Peter Stone, Secretary of the Blue Shield International
Moderator:
Francesco Pisano, Director of Research, Technology Applications
and Knowledge Systems, UNITAR
Panel Discussion
Cultural heritage is often a silent casualty of
war. Under international law, warring parties
must refrain from any act of hostility directed
against cultural property. However, the history
of war is also the history of the progressive loss
of invaluable treasures, some of which belong
to our collective memory.
Today satellite imagery technology allows an
unbiased look at the consequences of armed
conflicts on cultural sites. UNOSAT, the UNITAR
Operational Satellite Applications Programme,
has recently released a study illustrating the
loss of important heritage across conflict-
stricken Syria.
This Library Talk will guide us through the
articulated international law system for the
protectionofculturalsites,allthewhilerevealing
the dramatic impact of war on monuments and
important sites in Syria, some of which date
back over 4,000 years. The session will also
tackle the importance of preserving archives
and libraries from the rage of war. A debate
with the audience will follow and the experts
will be available to answer questions.