Intentional destruction, pillaging and wild-scale looting of cultural property are various ways in which cultural heritage can be harmed in the event of armed conflict. By the end of 20th century, a comprehensive international legal regime for the protection of cultural property in armed conflicts was already in place, however it was the recent armed conflicts in the Middle East and Northern Africa that brought considerable attention of the international actors to the link between threats to cultural heritage and the maintenance of international peace and security. This Master's thesis examines the role and jurisdictions of the international global organisations and individual states in the protection of cultural heritage in the event of (internationalised) internal armed conflicts. Paper concludes that international community, despite the general approval of the idea of common heritage of mankind, and, the securitisation of the question, takes on a secondary role in the protection. Existing international legal regime stipulates that nation states retain sovereign right in decisions on how to protect cultural heritage, as well as the primary jurisdiction for the prosecution of criminal offences against cultural property. Any foreign intervention or contribution of technical and financial aid for the protection of cultural property requires a consensus from the authority that holds effective control over the location of the property. The process of securitisation has, at least to a certain extent, widened its jurisdictions; however, the role of international community is still limited by the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
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