2007-02-07

"Protecting Cultural Heritage: International Law after the War in Iraq", which took place on February 3, 2006 in Chicago, examined international legal provisions for protecting cultural property during armed conflict and occupation, and offered suggestions on how to strengthen them. Panelists considered the legal status of the 1954 Hague Convention, its applicability to the events in Iraq, and proposals for a new protocol to the Hague Convention that addressed the problems that arose in Iraq. The need for a new protocol is urgent given the possibility of war in other regions rich in cultural heritage resources.