Amid the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, UNESCO works in six areas defined by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the main of which is monitoring and assessing the destruction of cultural heritage.
This was announced in Lviv during the conference “Crime against cultural heritage amid war and post-war” by UNESCO Liaison Officer in Ukraine Professor Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, reports Ukrinform.
According to the spokesman, a special interactive map was created for this purpose, which is being updated.
UNESCO sees that 256 objects have been damaged as of Friday. Satellite analysis is done every 24 hours, the official noted. The organization may not have direct evidence of crimes related to cultural property as this is not a legal approach and UNESCO does not look at intentions, but assesses the extent of damage, which will later help to properly organize an intervention. And then the Ukrainian authorities can use it for legal action, said Bardeschi.
She emphasized that the organization currently works in Ukraine in six areas approved by the Ministry of Culture. The first is monitoring and assessment of the situation of destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine. The second is the reconstruction and restoration of these objects, the third is the recovery of the institutional potential and capacity of cultural institutions, as well as support in the field of education.
Another area of our activity is improving the sustainability of culture, as well as strengthening the capacity of creative industries because UNESCO is already aware of the outflow of artists from Ukraine. Also, the organization is working on digital transformation of cultural heritage management in Ukraine, which involves interconnection of databases, according to which different actors operating in this sector should cooperate.
She also emphasized that the organization does not have a mandate to investigate, but has the right to help in processing technical documentation and training, as it works under the ratified Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 1954 and the two protocols to it (1954 and 1999).
Currently, UNESCO is preparing special training sessions for the military and law enforcement, so that the work on recording damage to cultural heritage is carried out in accordance with regulatory requirements. Training will begin in a few months, Bardeschi said.
The organization is also conducting training for 17 journalists working on the front lines so that they learn how to cover events related to the destruction of cultural property, she added.
