The scope and importance of cooperation between UNESCO and the ICC for the protection of cultural property

Intentional destruction and theft of cultural property during armed conflicts are now prohibited by international law. In line with international regulations, deliberate attacks against cultural property, both during international and non-international armed conflicts, may constitute serious violations of the norms of humanitarian law and their perpetrators should be tried and penalized. At the international level, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is the most appropriate body to take action to protect cultural property during armed conflicts. The International Criminal Court (ICC), on the other hand, has the jurisdiction to prosecute and penalize perpetrators of crimes against cultural property, classified as war crimes. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to answer the question of the extent to which the cooperation between the ICC and UNESCO may affect the protection of cultural property during armed conflicts. In order to answer this question, analysis was performed of the scope of the protection of cultural property by the ICC and UNESCO, as well as of the legal basis for cooperation between these institutions.