International Law and the Protection of Cultural Heritage

ISBN-13: 9780415467810 / Angielski / Twarda / 2010 / 480 str.

Craig Forrest

Opis

The world's cultural heritage is under threat from war, illicit trafficking, social and economic upheaval, unregulated excavation and neglect. Over a period of almost fifty years, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has adopted five international conventions that attempt to protect this cultural heritage. This book comprehensively and critically considers these five UNESCO cultural heritage conventions. The book looks at the conventions in the context of recent events that have exposed the dangers faced by cultural heritage, including the destruction of cultural heritage sites in Iraq and the looting of the Baghdad museum, the destruction the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan, the salvage of artefacts from the RMS Titanic and the illicit excavation and trade in Chinese, Peruvian and Italian archaeological objects. As the only existing work to consider all five of the cultural heritage conventions adopted by UNESCO, the book acts as an introduction to this growing area of international law. However, the book does not merely describe the conventional principles and rules, but, critically evaluates the extent to which these international law principles and rules provide an effective and coherent international law framework for the protection of cultural heritage. It is suitable not only for those schooled in the law, but also for those who work with cultural heritage in all its manifestations seeking a broad but critical consideration of this important area of international law.

The protection of cultural heritage has featured in numerous international events over the last decade. Perhaps the most notorious event has been the destruction and looting of the Baghdad museum and archaeological sites throughout Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. The destruction of monuments, churches and museums, the looting of archaeological sites, and the consequent illicit trafficking of recovered artifacts has occurred in numerous other armed conflicts, including the First Gulf War, the conflict in the Balkans, and Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing conflict in the Levant. These events have led to a number of developments in international law that addresses the protection of cultural heritage.

This book comprehensively sets out the international law principles and rules derived from the various international conventions that address cultural heritage in its various manifestations. As such, it acts as an introduction to this growing area of international law. However, the book does not merely describe these principles and rules, but, in the context of contemporary issues and events, critically evaluates the extent to which these international law principles and rules provide an effective and coherent international law framework for the protection of cultural heritage.

Spis treści

1. Defining Cultural Heritage In International Law  2. International Legal Framework  3. Cultural Heritage and Armed Conflicts  4. The Return, Restitution and Repatriation of Movable Cultural Heritage  5. World Heritage Convention  6. Underwater Cultural Heritage  7. Intangible Cultural Heritage  8. From Five International Conventions to an International Law of Co-Operation

O autorze

Craig Forrest is a Senior Lecturer in law at the TC Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland, Australia.