Cultural Heritage at Risk

The Bamiyan Buddhas were two colossal statues of Buddha carved into a cliff in the Bamyan Valley of central Afghanistan. They were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property was adopted in 1970 and has been ratified by over 100 countries.

The 2015 Nepal earthquake caused widespread damage to cultural heritage sites in the country, including the collapse of the Dharahara Tower in Kathmandu.

The Blue Shield is a UNESCO program that aims to protect cultural heritage in conflict zones by providing training and support to cultural heritage professionals and by advocating for the protection of cultural heritage.

Palmyra was an ancient city in Syria that was extensively damaged during the Syrian Civil War. The city was captured by ISIS in 2015 and many of its ancient ruins were destroyed.

ICOMOS is the International Council on Monuments and Sites. It is a non-governmental organization that works to promote the preservation of cultural heritage.

The Great Mosque of al-Nuri was a historic mosque in Mosul, Iraq. It was destroyed by ISIS in 2015.

The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions is a UNESCO program that aims to promote the sustainable development of cultural heritage by supporting cultural diversity and creativity.

Cuzco is an ancient city in Peru that was damaged by a fire in 2016. The fire destroyed several historic buildings, including the Cathedral of Cuzco.

The Blue Shield is an international organization that works to promote the protection of cultural heritage in armed conflict. It is a network of cultural heritage professionals who work to protect cultural heritage from damage and destruction.

The Old City of Sana'a is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was damaged by airstrikes in 2015. The airstrikes destroyed several historic buildings, including the Great Mosque of Sana'a.

The Convention for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage is a UNESCO program that aims to promote the preservation of cultural heritage in underwater environments. It was adopted in 2001 and has been ratified by over 60 countries.

Izmir is an ancient city in Turkey that was damaged by an earthquake in 2020. The earthquake caused widespread damage to historic buildings, including the Izmir Archaeological Museum.

The Rural Cultural Heritage Convention is a UNESCO program that aims to promote the preservation of cultural heritage in rural areas. It was adopted in 2003 and has been ratified by over 40 countries.

Puebla is an ancient city in Mexico that was damaged by an earthquake in 2017. The earthquake caused widespread damage to historic buildings, including the Puebla Cathedral.