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UNESCO and ICCROM conduct a field training in Ukraine to enhance cultural property damage and risk assessment
The participants learned how to use the international methodology developed by UNESCO and ICCROM, which enables key information to be collected in a standardized way among the Ukrainian professionals when conducting on-site damage and risk assessment on immovable cultural property. A visit to House of Culture located in Irpin, Kyiv region, damaged in March 2022 by a shelling, served as an important case study.
The efforts to develop a standardized approach were initiated by UNESCO and ICCROM in order to harmonize data collection and methodologies for damage assessment. Close coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy and extensive consultations with national and international partners was indispensable to align these tools with the national legal framework of Ukraine. UNESCO further ensured the compatibility with international normative instruments such as the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two (1954 and 1999) Protocols.
Experts from all over Ukraine were gathered in Kyiv for the second time for a UNESCO training focusing on documenting the damage and risks for cultural heritage sites impacted as a result of the war. This training is very valuable, given that we have a unified methodology that is adapted to the norms of international law, which also takes into account the norms of our national legislation in order to correctly record losses via one methodology
The field exercise introduced the participating cultural professionals to practical steps on how to effectively respond to the damages: from how to arrive at sites, assess damages, determine priority actions to stabilize the sites and carry out the necessary emergency work. The development of such expertise is essential to prepare for the rehabilitation of these sites, and the recovery of the cultural sector as a whole.
The form and skills allow us to respond very quickly to the damage of a site and understand what to do to first, as well as the second, third and further steps
This training gave an opportunity to master the methodology of damage and risk assessment for cultural sites, learn how to fill out the unified form, prepare reports, and later do everything in our power to preserve our valuable cultural heritage.
This joint exercise and training, organized with the support of Japan, is part of UNESCO’s overall action in Ukraine to support the cultural sector and protect cultural heritage, through training for cultural professionals, reconstruction work and the reform of national legislation.
The Director of the House of Culture of Irpin exchanges with the Ukrainian cultural heritage professionals before conducting the damage assessment.
This training gave an opportunity to master the methodology of damage and risk assessment for cultural sites, learn how to fill out the unified form, prepare reports, and later do everything in our power to preserve our valuable cultural heritage.
This joint exercise and training, organized with the support of Japan, is part of UNESCO’s overall action in Ukraine to support the cultural sector and protect cultural heritage, through training for cultural professionals, reconstruction work and the reform of national legislation.
