Topic: 2025-Protecting Heritage Sites and Cultural Artifacts in Conflict Zones
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: Chloe Lee
Denmark values the protection of Heritage Sites and Cultural Artifacts, as these objects and sites are integral to the country’s origins and culture and traditions. Things such as architecture, jewelry, coins, and jars are representative of a country’s history and tell a story about the country’s original traditions, past geographical state, people, government, and more. However, with conflict zones for wars being located on these ancient sites, these artifacts are in grave danger for stealing and damage from impact such as war weapons and physical activity. Heritage sites and cultural artifacts are at a high risk of being destroyed during events of conflict, creating the issue of undiscovered aspects of our history and evolution being wiped away in obscurity. Protecting heritage sites and cultural artifacts is an important topic that must be discussed and taken into care.
Denmark has taken measures to protect heritage sites and cultural artifacts, implementing acts such as Act N. 331, Act N. 332, Act N. 480, and Executive Order N. 826. Act N. 331 details upon protecting cultural resources in Denmark, with cultural property made before 1660, worth more than 100,000 kroner, and is more than 100 years old being subjected to export control and heavy supervision. Act N. 332 protects cultural assets in Denmark, with special licenses being required in order to export these artifacts. This prevents possible looters from trying to export stolen artifacts to places such as the Faroe Island and Greenland, which prohibits exports of cultural artifacts without the special license. Act N. 480 illustrates the protection and preservation of buildings, while Executive Order N. 826 values the protection of historic buildings. With these laws, Denmark has set strict regulations on protecting the country’s heritage and history.
With the rising issue of conflict zones being located on heritage sites and the risks of cultural artifacts being stolen or destroyed in these zones, it is important that an initiative is taken in order to protect our history and cultural origins. With stricter laws on conflict zone locations and the use of heritage sites, organizations to protect these sites and artifacts and to educate people, organizations to relocate conflict zones, and the implementation of security sites to monitor heritage sites, we can ensure the protection of our history and cultural roots.
