Abstract
The International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS) was established by four NGOs covering archives, libraries, monuments and sites, and museums to help coordinate activities in response to man-made and natural disasters affecting cultural property. Other aims included encouraging risk preparedness, public awareness of the need for the protection of cultural heritage and urging governments to sign up to and implement international legislation in this area. An informal organization with no resources of its own, it has made some progress towards achieving these aims by working closely with UNESCO and other agencies. Recently it has become more active, especially in relation to the damage to and destruction of cultural property in Iraq. It has issued public statements and tried to raise awareness of the scale of the problem. With the initiative of the Prince Claus Fund of the Netherlands it has established the Cultural Emergency Response which has facilitated restoration work in Iraq, Iran and Morocco. Some progress has been made towards its aim to become the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross.
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