ICOM Reaffirms the Protection and Respect of Human Lives and Cultural Heritage During Conflict

ICOM expresses its alarm over recent military actions that continue to cause humanitarian harm and pose serious threats to cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Recent media coverage has underscored the sharp escalation in damage to cultural heritage across multiple conflict areas. In recent weeks, hundreds of cultural sites in Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Ukraine have been harmed or destroyed. These damages represent an immeasurable loss in terms of cultural knowledge and require a coordinated and urgent response at the international level.

ICOM called on all countries involved in current conflicts to comply with their obligations and responsibilities to protect cultural heritage in the Statement issued on the 6^th of March, 2026. In particular, States Parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of armed conflicts and its Protocols. ICOM, as voice and representative of the international museum community, supports the numerous statements that have been published by organisations at an international level and condemns those military actions that are violently impacting people and their cultural heritage.

Despite these repeated calls and warnings that have been issued in recent weeks, cultural sites and institutions continue to suffer direct damage from airstrikes, drone attacks and fires, as well as indirect damage caused, for example, by the shockwaves and environmental impact of missiles. In Iran, more than 130 cultural sites are reported to have been damaged, such as the Golestan Palace - with museums within its complex - and the Meidan Emam in Isfahan, both of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Gaza, UNESCO has verified damage to 164 heritage sites, among them two museums. Cultural sites in Lebanon, particularly in the south of the country, have also been directly impacted. Strikes in the ancient cities of Baalbek and Tyre have seriously threatened these UNESCO World Heritage-listed cities, with the archaeological museum in Tyre suffering direct damage. Cultural heritage in Ukraine continues to suffer from the ongoing conflict, with 525 cultural sites having been verified as damaged by UNESCO since 2022, among them 39 museums. The recent attack on Lviv's 17th-century St Andrew's Church and the Bernardine Monastery, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ensemble of the Historic Centre, is a stark reminder that cultural heritage remains acutely vulnerable in conflict-affected countries.

The impact of these conflicts is further compounded by the widespread disruption to operations, including the temporary closure of museums and cultural institutions. Despite these challenges, dedicated museum professionals have undertaken extraordinary efforts to safeguard their collections, including their evacuation to safer locations.

These efforts at the national level are complemented by action at the international level. ICOM has contributed to initiatives by partner organisations to advocate for the protection of museums and cultural heritage more broadly. On the 1^st of April, ICOM joined an Extraordinary Meeting of the UNESCO Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict convened by UNESCO to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage in Lebanon and supported the granting of provisional enhanced protection to 39 cultural properties in Lebanon. ICOM also remains in contact with its National Committees in the impacted countries to assess and respond to the needs of its members.

ICOM has gathered freely available expert manuals, guides and operational tools on the protection of cultural heritage in times of emergency. Developed by its international committees and partner organisations such as ICCROM, these resources have been compiled and are available on our website.

Building on these efforts to support cultural heritage protection, ICOM also continues to promote museums as key actors in fostering unity and mutual understanding, in line with the chosen theme for International Museum Day 2026 and the ICOM 80^th Anniversary: "Museums Uniting a Divided World". With this theme, ICOM highlights the potential of museums to act as bridges across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides, fostering dialogue, understanding, and peace within and between communities worldwide in line with the ICOM Statement for Peace issued in August 2025.

About ICOM

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is an international organization of museums and museum professionals committed to the research, conservation, and communication of the world's natural and cultural tangible and intangible heritage. As a forum of experts, ICOM makes recommendations on issues related to cultural heritage, promotes capacity building and advance knowledge. ICOM is the voice of museum professionals on the international stage and raises public cultural awareness through global networks and cooperation programs.