WATCH Campaign against the destruction of Cultural Heritage in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel

WATCH (www.eyeonculture.net) Campaign against the destruction of Cultural Heritage in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.

The loss of innocent civilian lives cannot be tolerated and must be stopped with an immediate cease fire preventing the continuation of the hostilities in the region and enabling sensible negotiations to resolve the issues.
Meanwhile,

We would like to recall that the conservation of cultural heritage (CH) is a real and primary investment on sustainable development for Nations. Nevertheless, cultural heritage, while physically and mentally located within artificial boundaries of states, must not be regarded at as the property of a single nation, regardless of the moral, racial and religious rationale, that we utilize to justify ownership.

The truth is that Cultural Heritage belongs to Humanity at large. It is part and parcel of the collective consciousness and memory of Humankind. It is our duty to safeguard this inheritance that our forefathers have left and hand over such truth to future generations.Wars, armed conflicts and terrorist activities seem to have detrimental and irreversible effects on CH.

After humanity witnessed the huge destruction of CH during World War II many Inter-Governmental Organizations were to determine the strategies and policies to order to conserve the cultural heritage during times of peace as well as during armed conflict. They contribute to the efforts used to contrast the illicit trade or the destruction of cultural objects during peace times and in areas of turmoil.

Despite these noble and concentrated efforts, at the onset of the new millennium, humanity witnessed continuously the huge destruction of cultural heritage in the Balkan, Afghanistan conflicts, Gulf War and Iraq War.

The current armed conflict between Palestine, Israel and Lebanon and humanity is reason for great concern among the whole International community and a great preoccupation raises the potential further escalation of the conflict in a region that was already heavily affected by war and its side effects in the very recent past.

By remembering that Israel and Lebanon both signed the 1954 Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols we would like to invite the Israeli and the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Ministries of Culture and all the other national and local concerned authorities to take the necessary measures to protect cultural heritage in the country during the armed conflict.
Respect for the civilians and the cultural heritage of their opponent the armed forces currently engaged in war prove respect for themselves as well as for the entire humanity.
Those who intentionally fail to respect the international Conventions in times of armed conflict will be hold responsible under the international law and judged by the history.


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