Qatar Museums marks 70th anniversary of 1954 Hague Convention

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums (QM) yesterday hosted an event at the Museum of Islamic Art, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and the Une...

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums (QM) yesterday hosted an event at the Museum of Islamic Art, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and the Unesco office in Doha for GCC and Yemen to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property during Armed Conflict.

The event aimed to engage industry leaders in a focused dialogue on the legacy and future of the Hague Convention, and delved into the challenges faced throughout its mandate, and potential pathways to address them.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Fatema Hassan Al Sulaiti, Director of International Cooperation and Government Affairs at Qatar Museums said: “Qatar has long recognised the importance of protecting cultural heritage, incorporating this vision as a fundamental element of its national and international strategies. Through this celebration, we reaffirm our commitment to working with the international community to ensure the preservation and protection of cultural heritage from threats that jeopardise its existence. I hope this celebration will achieve its goals and serve as a significant step toward strengthening international cooperation in safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations”.

The 1954 Hague Convention aims to protect cultural property, such as monuments of architecture, art or history, archaeological sites, works of art, manuscripts, books and other objects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest, as well as scientific collections of any kind regardless of their origin or ownership.

Salah Khaled, Director of Unesco Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen said: “Marking seven decades since its inception, the 1954 Hague Convention continues to be a cornerstone in international efforts to safeguard humanity’s shared cultural heritage. Its principles resonate profoundly today, as we confront the growing complexities of protecting cultural property amidst conflicts. This milestone is a testament to our collective commitment to preserving the tangible threads of our history, fostering peace, and reaffirming the indispensable role of cultural heritage in shaping resilient, inclusive societies.”