The Blue Shield aims to protect cultural and heritage sites from attack in times of armed conflict or civil disturbance, and from natural disasters. It also promotes awareness of the importance of preserving heritage sites and their contents in peacetime and during conflict. The basis for the Blue Shield is the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property and its additional first and second protocols.
The Blue Shield network, often referred to as the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross, was formed in response to the changes in international law and today works globally to protect cultural heritage in emergency situations. It is a non-governmental, non-profit, international organisation committed to the protection of heritage across the world.
The Irish National Committee of Blue Shield (INCBS)
The Irish National Committee of the Blue Shield (INCBS) was established in September 2012 following formal accreditation from the international governing body Blue Shield.
The INCBS consists of two representatives from each of the following nominating bodies:
- International Council of Archives (ICA)
- International Council of Museums (ICOM)
- International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
The committee also has the mandate to co-opt other members, who have an active role in the delivery of the mission of Blue Shield. Members serve a maximum of four years and are eligible for reappointment for a further term of four years.
The current committee comprises of:
ICA – Zoë Reid (Chair) and Daniel Ayiotis
ICOM Ireland – Jessica Baldwin and Hugh Maguire
ICOMOS Ireland – Helena Bergin and Fergus McCormick
IFLA – Elizabethanne Boran (Secretary)
CPP/ World Heritage Expert- Patrizia La Piscopia
[Link to pdf doc of the committee members short bios]
One of the major achievements of the Committee has been the promotion of the UNESCO 1954 Hague Convention and its additional 2nd Protocol, which was finally ratified by the Government of Ireland in August 2018.
[Link to pdf doc about Hague Convention] http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/armed-conflict-and-heritage/convention-and-protocols/1954-hague-convention/
History of INCBS – pdf page
The Irish National Committee of Blue Shield
The Blue Shield network, often referred to as the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross, was formed in response to the changes in international law and today works globally to protect cultural heritage in emergency situations. It is a non-governmental, non-profit, international organisation committed to the protection of heritage across the world. This includes museums, monuments, archaeological sites, archives, libraries and audio-visual material, and significant natural areas, as well as intangible heritage.
The Irish National Committee of Blue Shield
September 2012 saw the ratification as the Irish National Committee of the Blue Shield (INCBS). Since formation, the INCBS has successfully achieved one of its key objectives, when the Government of Ireland finally ratified the UNESCO 1954 Hague Convention and its additional 2nd Protocol in August 2018.
[Link to pdf doc about Hague Convention]
Key objectives of the INCBS are:
- To act as a unifying voice for engaging government and funders to understand and accept their responsibilities for protecting long-term access to the cultural heritage.
- To develop plans to enable the INCBS to contribute to national and international efforts to protect the cultural heritage in times of war and natural disasters by means of organising voluntary workers where possible, by programmes of education, and training.
Committee 2012-2020
The Irish committee are indebted to the work of previous committee members:
2012-2018 Dr Michael Ryan, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Colette O’Flaherty, Frances Magee and Helen Hewson
2012-2020 Lar Joye, Cathy Daly, Deirdre McDermott and Kasandra O’Connell for their hard work to ensure that the ratification of the UNESCO 1954 Hague Convention was achieved in 2018.
A special note of acknowledgement should go to Lar Joye who as Chair (2014-2020) of the committee was unfailing in his drive and dedication.