The enhanced protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict : significance, limitations and future perspectives

Enhanced protection remains the latest and most modern mechanism of cultural property protection in the case of international and non-international armed conflicts. It was established by the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict in order to protect the cultural heritage of the greatest importance for humanity much more effectively. To this end, the immunity of cultural property under enhanced protection was ensured without regard for the principle of military necessity, individual criminal responsibility for the crimes against cultural heritage was established and an appropriate institutional and financial framework was set up under the 1999 Second Protocol. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the enhanced protection system in terms of its significance for both cultural heritage law and IHL developments, as well as its effectiveness. It also examines the obstacles to the spread of the 1999 Second Protocol and the enhanced protection itself. It is argued that a much more integrated approach to the cultural property protection in time of armed conflict and in peacetime is required; in particular the synchronization of different measures existing under the UNESCO's conventions and the simplification of procedures would be beneficial. The widespread ratification of the 1999 Second Protocol would help to reduce collateral damages and intentional destruction of cultural heritage regardless of the character of conflict and the status of the parties to the conflict. It could also contribute to the IHL development in terms of gradually moving away from the principle of military necessity.