Cultural treasures are being destroyed by war, and people want justice
The destruction of cultural heritage sites in Ukraine and Gaza has sparked a debate regarding the lack of international legal accountability for such acts during wartime. Experts note that while evidence is abundant, political will and jurisdictional hurdles prevent the prosecution of state actors.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant gap in international law regarding the protection of cultural identity and history during armed conflicts.
Cultural treasures are being destroyed by war, and people want justice
By Sebastian Usher August was a brutal month for Ukraine. Russian aerial attacks increased significantly, launching thousands of drones. Kyiv was intensely bombarded, as were the southern cities of Mykolaiv and Odesa. Amid the destruction and loss of life, Odesa reported damage to six Unesco-protected sites, including the salmon-pink 19th Century Alexandru Sturdza House.
It raised again the question of why it is so hard to hold actors accountable for the destruction of buildings and objects with real cultural significance.
In the last month alone, Ukraine's Ministry of Culture reported that 148 cultural heritage sites were recorded as damaged or destroyed, including in Odesa.
Several Ukrainian activist groups have tried to get accountability by lodging complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Russia over cultural destruction and looting, but no indictments have been issued.
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