By Naiara Álvaro
The ICOM is alarmed by the situation of the cultural heritage in Afghanistan. Many sites have been irreversibly damaged and a lot of cultural objects have disappeared. Illegal excavations and the illicit sale of items in need of protection have increased in the last few years.
The concerns of the International Council of Museums are also related to the safety of the civilian population and the people who fight in order to protect the history and cultural heritage of the country. In their last statement the ICOM claimed that they will continue to offer help and support to those in need as they did in the past.
However, they expect that the authorities of Afghanistan will continue to respect the Conventions of 1954 and 1970 in regard to the protection of cultural property and the prohibitions of illicit import and export of cultural heritage.
Source:
Image: Culture in Development