International Master in Cultural Property Protection in Crisis Response at the IIHL

On 18^th and 19^th May 2022, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law hosted the students of the Master in Cultural Property Protection in Crisis Response, organized by the Interdepartmental University School for Strategic Sciences (SUISS) of the University of Turin, in collaboration with the Italian Army Education and Training Command and School of Applied Military Studies, the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, the Conservation and Restoration Centre “La Venaria Reale”, and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law.

After a welcome address delivered by the Secretary-General of the Institute Ms Stefania Baldini, the Keynote Speech by Prof. Fausto Pocar, IIHL Honorary President, opened the study visit by discussing “Cultural Property and Military Necessity: the case of the Mostar Bridge”.

Following an interactive session chaired by Colonel Mark Dakers, Director of the military Department of the Sanremo Institute, on “Q&A on the challenges of IHL application”, the representatives of the organizing institutions took the floor to greet the participants. Institutional greetings were delivered by Col. Michele Strippoli, Head of Training Office at the Italian Army Education and Training Command and School of Applied Military Studies, Maj. Claudio Sanzò, Commander of  Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Lombardy and Prof. Edoardo Greppi, President of the IIHL and Director of the Master.

The two-day event was chaired by Professor Giovanna Segre of the University of Turin, Deputy-Director of the Master and Prof. Alessio Re, Secretary-General of the Fondazione Santagata for the Economics of Culture.
On this occasion, the partnership between the International Institute of Humanitarian Law and the Master in Cultural Property Protection in Crisis Response once again proved the strong interest of the organizing institutions in promoting the protection of cultural heritage (CPP), consolidating the students’ ability to enhance the role of culture in addressing social reconciliation and economic recovery in areas affected by armed conflict and other crisis.