WAC Dead Sea Accord.pdf

The World Archaeological Congress expresses concern for damage and destruction caused by armed conflict, acknowledging the priority of human life while asserting the importance of preserving cultural property as a basic human right. Cultural heritage informs identities, reflects histories, and creates shared bonds, playing a role in post-conflict reconciliation, and its destruction presents humanitarian, preservation, social, and economic concerns. The Congress calls on States to ratify and implement international humanitarian law instruments, such as the Hague Convention, to protect cultural heritage, and on States and non-state actors to observe and enforce these principles, refraining from destroying or damaging cultural heritage during armed conflict. The Congress also calls on States to take responsibility for ensuring that deployed forces observe international law, to incorporate cultural property protection into planning and training, and to respect and preserve cultural heritage in occupied territories. Additionally, the Congress calls on nations to prohibit the import of illegally removed cultural objects, to fund UNESCO, and to contribute to the Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.