LEBANON - Lebanon’s Permanent Mission to UNESCO has informed journalists and media representatives of an urgent initiative to safeguard the country’s cultural property amid escalating risks.

In coordination with the Ministry of Culture, particularly the Directorate General of Antiquities, the mission has called for an extraordinary session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

The session comes as part of intensified efforts to reinforce the protection of Lebanon’s cultural heritage, which faces growing threats due to recent developments.

Lebanon reaffirmed its strong commitment to the 1954 Hague Convention and its 1999 Second Protocol, emphasizing the importance of preserving heritage sites during armed conflict.

According to the mission, the meeting is expected to adopt several key decisions, including placing 39 additional archaeological sites under enhanced protection across the country, bringing the total to 73 sites following 34 designations in 2024.

Measures will also include implementing protective markings, notably the Blue Shield emblem, and ensuring necessary support for enforcement.

Authorities stressed that any attack on sites under enhanced protection would trigger legal accountability for the perpetrators under international law.