PCBS

The Polish Committee
of The Blue Shield

International Committee
of the Blue Shield

The Blue Shield is the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross. It is the symbol specified in the 1954 Hague Convention for marking cultural sites to give them protection from attack in the event of armed conflict. The International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS) is a cross-sectoral organisation bringing together the knowledge, experience and international networks of four expert organisations; The International Council on Archives, The International Council of Museums, The International Council on Monuments and Sites and The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. ICBS is international, independent, and professional. At a seminar held in Radenci, Slovenia in November 1998, on the initiative of the ICBS with support from UNESCO, participants agreed on the following principles:

1. Cultural heritage embraces both moveable and immovable property. Its loss is a concern to all and its protection, safeguard and respect, in normal and exceptional situations, must be included in policies and programmes at international, national, regional and local levels.

2. All institutions caring for the cultural heritage, and all authorities responsible for it, should integrate risk preparedness and management within their operations to avoid loss or damage in both normal and exceptional times.

3. The goal is to avoid loss or damage to cultural heritage in the event of emergencies by improving prevention, preparedness, response and recovery measures. It is achieved by developing, implementing and monitoring strategies which: assess and reduce risk; improve response capacity; and ensure co-operation of all relevant parties in local, national, and international emergency management.

4. With regard to the particular case of armed conflicts, the value of the basic principles of safeguard and respect for cultural heritage as embodied in The Hague Convention of 1954 and other conventions for the protection of cultural heritage adopted under the auspices of UNESCO, including precautionary measures such as the preparation of inventories, development and implementation of appropriate technical measures, and the adoption of national legislation and policies, is recognised.

It is, therefore, incumbent upon national representatives of the participating international bodies to seek to establish a local committee of the Blue Shield. Under the auspices of IFLA-UK an initial meeting was held at The British Library in November 1999. It was agreed that a steering group should be formed to explore the setting up of a United Kingdom and Ireland Blue Shield Organisation. The first meeting was held in March 2000.