The ICA expresses its deep concern over the escalation of hostilities affecting Iran, the Gulf Region, and the Eastern Mediterranean, and the risks these developments pose to archives, cultural heritage institutions, and cultural sites. We join the calls issued by partner organisations, including UNESCO and the International Council of Museums (ICOM), warning of the destruction and the continuing threats facing cultural heritage in the region.
The ICA reiterates the importance of respecting international humanitarian law and ensuring the protection of civilian lives. We also call upon all parties involved to refrain from any actions that may damage or destroy documentary and cultural heritage, in accordance with the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
The ICA further recalls the Universal Declaration on Archives, adopted by ICA and endorsed by the UNESCO General Conference at its 36th session, which affirms that archives “play an essential role in the development of societies by safeguarding and contributing to individual and community memory.” We also reaffirm the principles outlined in the Declaration on the Protection of Archives, Libraries, Museums and Heritage Places during Armed Conflicts and Political Instability, which stresses the responsibility of all actors to safeguard cultural heritage in times of crisis.
Archives constitute an irreplaceable part of humanity’s cultural heritage and must be protected. Safeguarding archives and cultural heritage is not only essential for protecting the historical record, but also for ensuring accountability, supporting reconciliation, and enabling societies to rebuild on the basis of their shared memory and collective past.
