Abstract:
The rapid development of international law for the protection of cultural heritage in the
past half century has occurred mainly at the level of treaties and to a certain extent of
soft law. But what is the status of general international law on this subject? Are there
obligations to respect and protect cultural heritage applicable to all states under
customary international law? This essay explores recent international practice pertaining
to the treatment of cultural heritage in four discrete areas - armed conflict, occupation,
cooperation against illicit trade, and intangible heritage. It concludes that a core of
substantive and procedural obligations are emerging in this field as a consequence of the
awareness that preservation of the great diversity of cultural heritage is part of the the
general interest of humanity
