Who we are
Blue Shield UK is one of the national committees of the Blue Shield. The Blue Shield is a network of committees of dedicated individuals from across the world that is:
"committed to the protection of the world’s cultural property, and is concerned with the protection of cultural and natural heritage, tangible and intangible, in the event of armed conflict, natural- or human-made disaster.” (Article 2.1, Blue Shield Statutes 2016).
National committees are coordinated by an international board – Blue Shield International.
The United Kingdom National Committee of the Blue Shield is a UK registered charity. Our mission is
(1) to promote the protection of the world’s cultural property for the public benefit, including cultural and natural heritage, both tangible and intangible, in the event of armed conflict, natural- or human-made disaster or otherwise;
(2) to encourage and assist national and devolved governments in the UK, the UK’s armed forces and security services, the owners and managers of cultural property, and others to proactively prepare for the protection of cultural property for the public benefit in the event of armed conflict, disasters and emergencies, and their aftermath;
(3) to provide support and advice for national and devolved governments in the UK, the UK’s armed forces and security services, the owners and managers of cultural property, and others regarding national and international laws relating to the preservation of cultural property during armed conflict, disasters, and emergencies;
(4) to promote the protection of cultural property for the public benefit by providing support and advice to those tackling the illicit trafficking of cultural property;
(5) to promote the public’s awareness of, and advance their knowledge of, cultural property protection before, during and after armed conflict, disasters, and emergencies;
(6) to promote research and training in the above areas for the public benefit; and
(7) to advance the above purposes for the public benefit through the promotion of national and international collaboration, including with other members of the Blue Shield network.
The United Kingdom National Committee of the Blue Shield is a UK registered charity. Our mission is
(1) to promote the protection of the world’s cultural property for the public benefit, including cultural and natural heritage, both tangible and intangible, in the event of armed conflict, natural- or human-made disaster or otherwise;
(2) to encourage and assist national and devolved governments in the UK, the UK’s armed forces and security services, the owners and managers of cultural property, and others to proactively prepare for the protection of cultural property for the public benefit in the event of armed conflict, disasters and emergencies, and their aftermath;
(3) to provide support and advice for national and devolved governments in the UK, the UK’s armed forces and security services, the owners and managers of cultural property, and others regarding national and international laws relating to the preservation of cultural property during armed conflict, disasters, and emergencies;
(4) to promote the protection of cultural property for the public benefit by providing support and advice to those tackling the illicit trafficking of cultural property;
(5) to promote the public’s awareness of, and advance their knowledge of, cultural property protection before, during and after armed conflict, disasters, and emergencies;
(6) to promote research and training in the above areas for the public benefit; and
(7) to advance the above purposes for the public benefit through the promotion of national and international collaboration, including with other members of the Blue Shield network.
Somerset House, the current address of Blue Shield UK.
Photograph by Jan van der Crabben (Photographer), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photograph by Jan van der Crabben (Photographer), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
We have members from across the United Kingdom who are experts in heritage management and protection, disaster response, conservation, law, and many other areas. Governed by our trustees, our members contribute to expert working groups, all dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage in crisis.
The blue shield cultural emblem is a protective symbol used during armed conflicts. Its use is restricted under international law. You can download Guidance for its use (in English) on the Blue Shield International website (click the image).
|
The Blue Shield Movement chose to take up the emblem of the Convention as a symbol of its protective work: our logo is distinguished by a circular blue background to indicate the wider remit of our work.
Today, as the devastation wrought by conflicts and disasters across the world is brought vividly home to us in the news and on social media, that emblem can be found in 6 continents, as people across the world are working to protect heritage in disasters. 
|
Read more about our National Laws and the 1954 Hague Convention in our Law Library.
Learn more about Armed Conflict and Heritage on the UNESCO website.
Learn more about the 1954 First Protocol and 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention on the UNESCO website.
Learn more about Armed Conflict and Heritage on the UNESCO website.
Learn more about the 1954 First Protocol and 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention on the UNESCO website.
Download the guidance for the use of the Blue Shield logo on our Document Library.