Agenda Introduction

[ 1 ] The importance of cultural heritage in connecting people and being the key to identity has been agreed upon by the international community. However, throughout history, cultural heritage has been affected during armed conflicts. The destruction, looting, and neglect of cultural heritage in armed conflict zones arise from intentional and structural reasons. One of the factors is the deliberate ideological or strategic targeting. Extremist actors have destroyed monuments and religious sites to erase symbolic identities that contradict their ideology or to make a political statement. Weak legal framework and insufficient preparation also contribute to the issue. Additionally, the economic cost is significant in the process of restoration and reconstruction requires large expenditures. Incorporation of these elements is required to provide a systemized preservation of cultural heritages in armed conflict zones.

[ 2 ] From the late 18th to the early 20th century, the prevailing inequality of power allowed colonizers to sever cultural objects from colonial communities all around the world. The dislocation of cultural properties caused by colonized history has remained an ongoing issue. Recently, this has been viewed as a lasting legacy of colonialism and an active human rights violation. Due to the legal loophole, the paradox of unlawful possession of looted artifacts arises. It obstructs restitution efforts, becoming an incentive for the illicit trade. The need to reframe the discourse on restitution is not only limited to a legal matter, but also as a matter of justice and empowerment for communities that experienced historical dispossession. This involves the acknowledgement that cultural properties under exploitative colonial conditions call for an international framework for their conservation.

---

Country List

Please refer to the list for your delegation preferences: