Protecting cultural property

The Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) adopted on 14 May 1954 with its two additional protocolls is an international agreement to safeguard and protect cultural property during armed conflicts. The Convention was set up following the devastation of the Second World War. The subject of protection is cultural property, as defined in Article 1 of the Convention: Moveable and immoveable property of great significance to the cultural heritage of every people. Protection involves safeguarding through preventative measures during peacetime as well as respect for one’s own and foreign cultural property in the event of armed conflict.

The Republic of Austria ratified the Hague Convention in 1964 (Federal Law Gazette No. 58/1964). To conform to the Convention, cultural property was recorded, evidence gathered and property labelled with international protection numbers in 1976.