The link between cultural heritage protection and children in armed conflict : the absence of a dedicated resolution and the potential role of the United Nations Security Council

Tools

Guercio, Laura; Sadowski, Mirosław M. and Bonaviri, Gianluigi Mastandrea and Ceccotti, Filippo, eds. (2025) The link between cultural heritage protection and children in armed conflict : the absence of a dedicated resolution and the potential role of the United Nations Security Council. In: Heritage in War and Peace IV. University of Strathclyde Publishing, Glasgow. ISBN 9781914241802 (https://doi.org/10.17868/strath.00093365)

[thumbnail of Guercio-HWP-IV-2025-The-link-between-cultural-heritage-protection-and-children]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Guercio-HWP-IV-2025-The-link-between-cultural-heritage-protection-and-children.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (804kB)| Preview

Abstract

This article explores the intersection between the protection of children in armed conflict and the safeguarding of cultural heritage, highlighting the absence of a dedicated United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution addressing this crucial connection. While existing frameworks provide protection for both children and cultural heritage separately, they fail to acknowledge the profound impact that the destruction of cultural heritage has on children's identity, education, and long-term psychological well-being. The article argues for the necessity of an integrated approach that formally recognizes cultural heritage as an essential component of child protection in conflict zones. By examining international legal instruments, UNSC resolutions, and case studies, this study underscores the urgent need for a resolution that explicitly links these two areas, strengthening global efforts to ensure both the physical and cultural survival of children affected by war.

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)