Dear Colleagues,

After more than 13 years hard work and campaigning, the 1999 Second
Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural
Property in the Event of Armed Conflict has finally come into force this
morning (3 months after the deposit for the 20th ratification - Costa Rica
on 9th December 2003), so 9th March is a particularly auspicious day!

The Protocol greatly strengthens and clarifies cultural protection and
introduces new measures including the designation of cultural property
under Enhanced Protection, specific war crimes, and new administrative
procedures including the establishment of an International Committee and
International Fund for the Protection of Culture.

The Second Protocol is not retrospective in respect of events before
today's date, of course, and initially is it is binding only on, and
between, those States that have adopted it by ratification or accession.
The list of States Parties (i.e. countries that have agreed to be bound
by) to the Second Protocol is on the UNESCO website at:

http://www.unesco.org/culture/laws/hague/images/2plist.doc



Patrick Boylan

------------------

N.B. Please note my new address and phone number:

(Prof.) Patrick J. Boylan
2A Compass Road
Scraptoft Lane
Leicester LE5 2HF
UK

Tel.: (+44) (0)-116.220.5496

E-mail: [log in to unmask]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the
archives at:  http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html