The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #58773   Message #936206
Posted By: artbrooks
18-Apr-03 - 06:44 PM
Thread Name: BS: Iraqi National Museum Looted
Subject: RE: BS: Iraqi National Museum Looted
Not that I think that the "occupying power" doesn't have some responsibilities for maintaining order, but could somebody tell me which Article in which Geneva Convention states that it has the responsibility to guard museums and to provide social work services? I looked and couldn't find it. The Geneva Conventions (there are 4 plus 2 Additions) are here.

What the applicable treaty (which is the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954) says is as follows: Art. 5. 1. Any High Contracting Party in occupation of the whole or part of the territory of another High Contracting Party shall as far as possible support the competent national authorities of the occupied country in safeguarding and preserving its cultural property. Iraq did not sign this, the US and UK did.

It might, BTW, be interesting to take a look at the international treaties which Iraq has signed, here.