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7907th Security Council Meeting: International Peace and Security
The Security Council deplored today the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, religious sites and artefacts, and the smuggling of cultural property by terrorist groups during armed conflict, affirming that such attacks might constitute a war crime and must be brought to justice.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2347 (2017), the 15-member Council recalled its condemnation of any engagement in trade involving Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), Al-Nusrah Front, and all other individuals or groups associated with Al-Qaida. It reiterated that such engagement could constitute financial support for entities designated by the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
The Council stressed that Member States had the primary responsibility to protect their cultural heritage, and that efforts must comply with the United Nations Charter and respect the principle of sovereignty. It encouraged Member States to take preventive steps through documentation and consolidation of their nationally owned cultural property in a network of “safe havens”.
Furthermore, the Council welcomed actions by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to preserve cultural heritage in peril and to protect and promote cultural pluralism, encouraging Member States to support them. Taking note of the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund and the international fund to protect endangered cultural heritage in armed conflicts established in December, the Council also encouraged Member States to provide funds to support preventive and emergency operations.
Briefing members after the text’s adoption, Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, said the destruction of cultural heritage was a war crime and tactic of war, and that defending that heritage was a security imperative. From Palmyra to the Shrine of Mosul, cultural heritage sites were symbols of unity, bearing witness to the dialogue of cultures that had always existed, she said, adding: “Violent extremists know this, and that is why they seek to destroy it.”
To attack the scourge, some 50 States, working with UNESCO, had strengthened their legislation and were sharing data to dismantle trafficking routes, she said. Furthermore, UNESCO, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Police Organization (INTERPOL), customs services, the private sector and museums were also coordinating action to protect cultural heritage. Council resolution 2199 (2015), which prohibited the trade in cultural property from Iraq and Syria and called upon Member States to cooperate in ending it, was yielding quick results.
Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, said terrorist groups like ISIL exploited cultural sites to finance their activities while strengthening their links with transnational organized crime. In that regard, today’s resolution aimed to strengthen international cooperation so as to deprive terrorists of funding and to protect cultural heritage.
“Protecting cultural heritage requires us to make every effort to implement this international legal and normative framework and strengthen international cooperation,” he continued, noting that it demanded a global criminal-justice response that could disrupt organized criminal and terrorist networks, including through anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering action. To that end, a stronger focus on investigation, cross-border cooperation and exchange of information was needed. It was also important to bring in public and private-sector partners in order to promote supply-chain integrity and stop the illicit trade in and sale of cultural property.
Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director, said the need for action was more urgent than ever. “This crime cannot be allowed to continue unabated,” he said. The destruction of landmarks was not only reprehensible; it also generated profits for terrorists through trafficking in collusion with organized crime groups. Those profits funded further acts of terrorism, enabling more destruction and looting of cultural sites and archaeological treasures.
For its part, UNODC was providing technical assistance and helping to build capacity as well as facilitating international cooperation to prevent and combat trafficking in cultural property, he said. Full implementation of the Convention against Corruption was especially critical because trafficking relied on corrupt officials and dealers. Member States, for their part, must provide greater resources in the spirit of shared responsibility, he underlined.
Also addressing the Council was Fabrizio Parrulli, Head of Italy’s Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. He said the Command had investigated the trafficking of almost 800,000 pieces of art and 35,000 people, detaining more than 1,000 people in the defence of cultural heritage. While INTERPOL provided assistance, it was not enough due to the complex nature of the crime, which called for unique expertise, he said, adding: “We strongly advocate for international cooperation and law enforcement.”
Highlighting national efforts, he said Italy’s Carabinieri had recovered thousands of objects and built legal cases that had resulted in high-profile repatriations of cultural property. The Command had also helped others to recover their stolen property and had provided training courses, while establishing bilateral liaisons with States on protecting cultural heritage.
During the ensuing discussion, delegates agreed that safeguarding heritage was not only about protecting civilization, it was also vital for security, and played a key role in restoring peace and resolving conflicts. They acknowledged the important role of UNESCO, INTERPOL and UNODC and shed light on their respective Governments’ steps to support protection initiatives and educate law enforcement and the public about the importance of doing so.
France’s Minister for Culture and Communication, noting the direct link between the financing of terrorist groups and the illicit trade of cultural goods, welcomed the establishment of cultural safe havens and the international fund to protect at-risk cultural heritage. France would continue to do its part, he said, including by financing the protection of cultural heritage.
Italy’s Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that his country, as a partner in the global coalition against Da’esh, intended to promote swift implementation of Council resolution 2199 (2015), raise awareness on the need to protect cultural heritage and increase security at heritage sites.
Representatives of Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Sweden, Uruguay, Egypt, Russian Federation, China, United States, Ethiopia, Japan, Senegal and the United Kingdom also addressed the Council.
The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 12:00 p.m.
