ICOMOS addresses UN Security Council at meeting on Ukrainian cultural heritage
On 15 July 2022, ICOMOS President Teresa Patrício was invited to speak at the UN Security Council Arria Formula meeting entitled “The Destruction of cultural heritage as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine”, organised by the Permanent Mission of Albania, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Poland and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine.
ICOMOS Poland member Katarzyna Zalasinska (Director of National Institute of Cultural Heritage / Support Center for Culture in Ukraine) also addressed the Council on the need to provide supplies to the Ukrainian cultural sector and to work on a mechanism for reconstruction.
This meeting offered UN member states the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts and expert assessments of the extent of damage to cultural property in Ukraine, both movable and non-movable, caused by the Russian invasion. The meeting was also an invitation to the international community to continue to provide financial assistance and to adequately coordinate international efforts to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage in cooperation with Ukraine playing a leading role.
Speaking from Ukraine, Dr Patrício emphasised the efforts made by ICOMOS over the past months, pointing out that “Since 24 February, the ICOMOS Crisis and Conflict Monitoring Unit has been in contact with our Ukrainian members, who have been conducting surveys and monitoring the various crisis situations.
ICOMOS has been concentrating its resources and efforts on providing support to our colleagues in Ukraine, as well trying to organise the delivery of protection material, such as the provision of 400 fire extinguishers for the preservation of Ukraine’s wooden churches”.
On the invitation of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, Dr Patricio and Vice-President Zeynep Gül Ünal were in Ukraine on a joint ICOMOS-ICCROM-ALIPH cultural heritage mission from 9-16 July 2022 to meet members of the Ministry and local heritage actors and to visit cultural heritage sites damaged or endangered by the conflict.
