The European Commission-led Expert Group has unveiled its Recommendations on Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Ukraine, a framework addressing the challenges posed by ongoing conflict and climate-related risks. This milestone document represents the collaborative expertise of diverse fields, including cultural heritage preservation, emergency management, and resilience building. ICCROM was present and contributed to the development of the document, drawing on the extensive experience of its flagship programme, First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR), in capacity building and risk management.
These recommendations are the culmination of months of dedicated effort, driven by the urgency to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage in a rapidly evolving risk landscape. They reflect a shared vision for a coordinated, inclusive approach to preserving heritage as both a cultural resource and a pillar of community resilience.
Key Recommendations: Call for Action
The recommendations lay the groundwork for integrating cultural heritage into broader for disaster risk management and recovery frameworks. Key priorities include:
- Risk Management Integration: embedding cultural heritage within national disaster risk reduction strategies, emphasizing preparedness for both natural and human-made hazards.
- Emergency Coordination: establishing robust inter-agency protocols to ensure effective cooperation among heritage custodians, emergency responders, and other key actors.
- Community-Led Recovery: recognizing the essential role of local communities in post-crisis recovery and the broader effort to build resilience through heritage.
- Digital Transformation: encouraging the digitization of heritage documentation to enhance readiness, facilitate timely interventions, and support sustainable recovery efforts.
- Capacity Development: calling for systematic training of heritage professionals to manage risks, lead emergency actions, and support recovery processes.
Building Resilience: ICCROM’s New Initiative in Ukraine
The release of these recommendations aligns with the launch of ICCROM’s new 30-month initiative, Resilient Heritage: Strengthening Capacities for Risk Reduction, Emergency Response, and Sustainable Recovery, supported by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of State. This project builds on ICCROM’s ongoing efforts to build crucial capacities for effective risk management of cultural heritage, aligned with the principles of the Expert group.
The initiative will establish national and regional risk management frameworks, conduct multi-stakeholder emergency simulations, and implement stabilization measures at critical heritage sites. It will also promote digital sustainability, ensuring that essential heritage documentation is accessible and interoperable across sectors.
By promoting collaboration and setting up coordination mechanisms among the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, local authorities, and international partners, ICCROM aims to create a cohesive and sustainable system for heritage protection and recovery in Ukraine.