Bruxelles, 7 December 2016
A policy seminar and workshop focusing on ‘Cultural Heritage, Disaster resilience and Climate change. The contribution of EU Research and Innovation’ took place in Bruxelles with the participation of policy makers, civil society, researchers and innovators.
The event was opened by a background review of policies and actions undertaken by the EU, UNESCO, NGO and Civil Society to increase disasters resilience for cultural heritage sites, that was followed by a constructive discussion with a very active participation of the public.
Within that framework WATCH was invited to present a review of its experience of international cooperation for the protection of cultural heritage in times of peace and in the event of war. The main initiatives promoted during over a decade, were presented giving special emphasis to the actions in support to the State Parties for the implementation of the protective measures foreseen especially within the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, its two protocols, and the related international law.
The Research and Innovation projects recently launched and those that are still ongoing within the EU H2020 and JPI programmes focusing on cultural heritage and disasters risk reduction and management were presented within a dedicated workshop. The aim of the workshop was to share the experience so far gained within those projects, to improve synergies and to identify space for future cooperation.