International Committee of the Blue Shield

International Committee of the Blue Shield
Elcunliffe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	International Committee of the Blue Shield
Formation	1996
Type	International organization
Purpose	Protection of cultural heritage
Headquarters	The Hague, Netherlands
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	International Council of Museums, International Council on Archives, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

International Committee of the Blue Shield is an international organization that works to protect the world's cultural heritage from the effects of conflict and disaster, in cooperation with organizations such as UNESCO, United Nations, and International Committee of the Red Cross. The organization was founded in 1996 by International Council of Museums, International Council on Archives, and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, with the aim of providing a coordinated response to the protection of cultural heritage in emergency situations, similar to the work of Doctors Without Borders and International Rescue Committee. The International Committee of the Blue Shield works closely with other organizations, including World Heritage Centre, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and European Union.

● History

The International Committee of the Blue Shield was established in 1996, in response to the destruction of cultural heritage during the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War, which highlighted the need for international cooperation to protect cultural heritage in conflict zones, as seen in the work of Medecins Sans Frontieres and Oxfam. The organization's founders, including International Council of Museums, International Council on Archives, and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, were inspired by the principles of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, which was adopted in 1954, and the Geneva Conventions, which were established in 1949. The International Committee of the Blue Shield has since worked with organizations such as UNESCO, United Nations Development Programme, and European Commission to develop guidelines and standards for the protection of cultural heritage in emergency situations, similar to the work of International Organization for Migration and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

● Organization

The International Committee of the Blue Shield is a non-governmental organization, with its headquarters located in The Hague, Netherlands, and is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from International Council of Museums, International Council on Archives, and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. The organization has a secretariat, which is responsible for the day-to-day operations, and works closely with other organizations, including World Heritage Centre, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and Council of Europe. The International Committee of the Blue Shield also has a network of national committees, which are responsible for implementing the organization's programs and activities at the national level, in countries such as France, Germany, and Italy, and works with organizations such as European Union, African Union, and Organization of American States.

● Mission and Objectives

The mission of the International Committee of the Blue Shield is to protect the world's cultural heritage from the effects of conflict and disaster, and to promote the principles of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, which was adopted in 1954. The organization's objectives include providing emergency assistance to cultural heritage institutions and sites, promoting the development of disaster risk reduction and management plans, and advocating for the protection of cultural heritage in international law, as seen in the work of International Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights. The International Committee of the Blue Shield works closely with organizations such as UNESCO, United Nations, and International Committee of the Red Cross to achieve its objectives, and collaborates with institutions such as British Museum, Louvre, and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

● Activities and Initiatives

The International Committee of the Blue Shield has undertaken a range of activities and initiatives to protect cultural heritage in emergency situations, including providing emergency assistance to cultural heritage institutions and sites, such as the National Museum of Iraq and the National Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organization has also developed guidelines and standards for the protection of cultural heritage in emergency situations, in cooperation with organizations such as International Council of Museums, International Council on Archives, and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. The International Committee of the Blue Shield has also worked with organizations such as World Heritage Centre, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and European Union to promote the development of disaster risk reduction and management plans, and has collaborated with institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Sorbonne University.

● Membership and Partnerships

The International Committee of the Blue Shield has a membership of over 20 national committees, which are responsible for implementing the organization's programs and activities at the national level, in countries such as United States, Canada, and Australia. The organization also has partnerships with a range of international organizations, including UNESCO, United Nations, and International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as with institutions such as British Museum, Louvre, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. The International Committee of the Blue Shield works closely with other organizations, including World Heritage Centre, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and European Union, to promote the protection of cultural heritage and to develop guidelines and standards for the protection of cultural heritage in emergency situations, similar to the work of International Organization for Migration and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The organization also collaborates with Council of Europe, African Union, and Organization of American States to achieve its objectives.

Category:International organizations