UNESCO Panel Discussion on the application of 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, in the case of the war.

Background:
Since July 2023, attacks to Ukrainian cultural heritage of World Heritage sites have been witnessed. The Russian armed forces have launched a series of attacks against Lviv and Odesa, resulting in civilian casualties and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, including cultural and religious sites. In response to these attacks, UNESCO issued three statements condemning the targeting of cultural property and calling on the Russian Federation to comply with its obligations under international law, notably the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. In its statement, UNESCO expresses its concerns vis-à-vis the escalation of violence on cultural property. Cultural sites damaged in Lviv and Odesa are within and outside the boundaries of the World Heritage properties “Historic Centre of Lviv” and “Historic Centre of Odesa". During this panel discussion we will go through the legal basis of UNESCO Conventions and peculiarities of their application, analyze the efficiency of emergency interventions, first-aid, and risk prevention tools. It is crucial to enhance the literacy of the expert community concerning site protective measures, to reduce vulnerability of damaged cultural heritage in case of further attacks.

An advocacy dialog between civil society experts and government officials.

The dialogue is based on the policy document "Vision of Ukraine 2030: Social and Humanitarian Sector", created by the Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition together with the School of Political Analysis and 50 independent civil society experts with the support of USAID/ENGAGE, which presents a vision of reforming and restoring Ukraine in the social and humanitarian sphere - see: https://uareforms.org/visions/new-vision-640 The event program includes an open dialogue between government and civil society representatives on the proposals developed by cultural experts.

Yevhen Bystrytskyi, executive editor of "Vision 2030", will talk about the task of developing reform and recovery policies in the social and humanitarian sphere and advocacy promotion of the proposed policy document.

Yuriy Mykytyuk, Head of Regional Programs, Senior Advocacy Manager of the Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition, will talk about advocacy promotion of the proposed policy document.

Presentation of the cultural policy vision - Oksana Zabolotna, analyst, Center for Joint Action.

Discussion.

Question session from the audience.

Presentation of the national memory policy vision by Yaryna Yasynevych, Program

Discussion.

Question session from the audience.