Facing Heritage Protection in Armed Conflicts, International Institutions and Civil Society

States have the responsibility to preserve their heritage and the heritage of the opposition in the case of an armed conflict. Currently, international laws regarding heritage protection establish several limitations to civil society organisations’ (CSOs’) ability to prevent heritage destruction in an emergency or during armed conflict. Lack of coordination and strict procedures are commonplace and have been shown to be inefficient in preserving heritage during armed conflict or in punishing those who attack it. Therefore, civil society has grown to be indispensable on the current international stage. In the present chapter, we will consider the role of civil societies organisations (CSOs) within the framework of international law and policies to highlight essential points of focus for protecting heritage during armed conflicts.