No:720/23, Press release on the adoption of the resolution put forward by Azerbaijan at UNESCO
12 December 2023 12:39
On 11 December of the current year, the 15th Meeting of the States Parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict was held at UNESCO Headquarters.
The draft resolution on “The impact of mines on cultural heritage,” included in the agenda of the meeting by Azerbaijan, was adopted by the unanimous decision of 135 States Parties to the Convention.
The resolution commends the efforts of Member States to protect and safeguard cultural property (cultural heritage) during armed conflicts and post-conflict periods, and notes that the use of mines and other explosive devices contrary to international humanitarian law can cause significant damage to cultural property.
The resolution expresses concern that the use of mines and other explosive devices poses a serious threat to cultural property.
The resolution emphasizes the importance of preventing steps that violate the 1954 Hague Convention.
We would like to note that the topic of the impact of mines on cultural heritage is the first resolution in the history of UNESCO to be discussed and adopted unanimously. In addition, a paragraph of the same content was included in the agenda by Azerbaijan for the first time in the history of the aforementioned Convention.