The International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS)
Comité International du Bouclier Bleu (CIBB)
Bulletin from the meeting of The International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS)
Held at the offices of the International Council of Museums (ICOM)
Paris, on 27th January 2004
President
The meeting appointed Joan van Albada, Secretary General of the International Council on Archives (ICA) as President, to succeed Ross Shimmon. Joan's term would run from 2004-2006. The changeover took effect at the end of the meeting.
Cultural Emergency Response
Els van der Plas, Director of the Prince Claus Fund reported on progress on the establishment of the Cultural Emergency Response (CER), the joint initiative with the ICBS. The Prince Claus Fund had agreed to provide initial funding of EUR 100,000 annually for four years. A steering Committee had been appointed consisting of an independent chair, Louk de la Rive Box, Els van der Plas and Ross Shimmon representing ICBS. Joan will replace Ross.
It was hoped to engage the services of a consultant to establish the CER on a firm footing and to begin a fund-raising campaign.
Iraq
The CER had provided EUR 25,000 towards the refurbishment of the reading room of the Central University Library in Baghdad. Furniture and computer equipment was being purchased with the funds. The ICA resolution on Iraq was noted.
Iran: earthquake in Bam
Gaia Jungeblodt (International Council on Monuments and Sites) presented a report by ICOMOS Secretary General. The Iranian authorities were reported to be well organised and resourced but were seeking co-operation in scientific research in order to prevent loss and damage in the event of earthquakes. Members took the view that this would be beyond the capacity of ICBS at least for the time being.
Afghanistan
François Langlois of UNESCO reported on the current situation. Significant progress was being achieved. He agreed to circulate a full report later.
Israel/Palestine
Gaia reported on a provisional report of an ICOMOS committee. Members agreed on the need for impartial and objective information. Ross reported that the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) had applied for support from the UNESCO to send a mission to explore the impact on libraries on the conflict in that area, with funding from the Nordic Library Associations.
Ukraine
Evelyn Wareham (ICA) reported on the fire in the archives which took place last year. Material had been freeze-dried, but now restoration work was urgently needed. A full report was called for so that it could be considered for support from the CER.
Niue
Ross and Evelyn reported that a cyclone had hit the tiny Pacific Island State of Niue and had destroyed the Huanaki Cultural Centre. Communications had been cut. It was hoped to receive a report from the UNESCO regional office and NZAid. Members also agreed to contact their regional representatives. Once further information is received a proposal will, if appropriate, be put to the CER.
International Red Cross
Christiane Logie (ICBS Secretary) and Marie-Thérèse Varlamoff (IFLA) reported on their attendance at the XXVIIIth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It was agreed that Joan would write to the Red Cross to invite an observer at ICBS meetings to begin to forge a closer relationship.
The Hague Convention
Jan Hladík (UNESCO) informed the participants that the Second Protocol to
The Hague Convention has just received its twentieth ratification and, in
consequence, it will enter into force on 9 March 2004. The
Intergovernmental Committee under the Second Protocol will be elected on the
occasion of the next session of the General Conference which will take place
in 2005. A commemorative symposium on the 50th anniversary of The Hague
Convention would be held in Paris on 14 May. The ICBS Chair will be
officially invited.
Museums Emergency Programme: International Symposium on Cultural Heritage
Cristina Menegazzi reported on the symposium. More information is available from ICOM at secretariat@icom.museum
Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB)
Madeleine Sjöstedt, Director of CHwB, introduced her organisation, a private initiative created in the aftermath of the war in the former Yugoslavia. It is supported by the Swedish government. She expressed interest in co-operating with CER and in establishing a Swedish Blue Shield committee.
Special issue of 'Alexandria'
Ross reported that the editor of 'Alexandria; the journal of national and international library and information issues', published by Ashgate in association with the British Library, wished to devote a special issue at the end of 2004 to the Blue Shield and associated matters. Several members and observers volunteered to prepare articles.
National Blue Shield committees
Messages had been received from India, the Republic of Korea and Spain expressing their intention to establish a national committee. But no formal request for recognition had been received since the last meeting.
ICBS Conference, July 2004
It was agreed to hold a conference to consider the future of ICBS in July 2004 at a date and venue to be announced separately. Meanwhile members were asked to prepare a result-oriented action plan and proposed future structure for ICBS, in time for consideration at a special meeting of ICBS to be held in Paris on 12th March. Manus agreed to prepare a framework for these contributions. National Blue Shield committees would be invited to the open sessions of the conference. Details will be announced separately.
Statutes
It was agreed to discuss the need for statutes for ICBS and for formal establishment as a foundation at the proposed conference to be held in July. Perrine Canavaggio (ICA) agreed to investigate the requirements under French law.
Secretariat
Future arrangements for the ICBS secretariat would be discussed at the July conference.
Next ICBS meetings
Friday 12th March, ICOM, Paris (Special meeting to prepare for the July conference)
Monday 17th May, ICA, Paris.
Links:
ICA
ICOM
ICOMOS
IFLA
