Restoring cultural property and communities after conflict

文化财产的破坏代表着对社区历史、文化和宗教活动甚至身份的攻击，可以作为消除多样性和不同历史叙述的一种方式。近年来，在冲突期间蓄意破坏文化财产的事件有所增加，例如在伊拉克和叙利亚。虽然既定的法律框架概述了在冲突期间保护文化财产的义务，但几乎没有考虑到不同行为者如何应对和赔偿已经发生的破坏。一个事态发展是，越来越多的人认识到有必要将对文化遗产的袭击定为犯罪并予以起诉，国际刑事法院等国际刑事法庭就证明了这一点。然而，对于那些试图应对这种损害的人来说，挑战仍然存在，既有要使用的适当法律框架，也有与归还和修复文化财产有关的实际和道德挑战。该项目为这一新出现的讨论做出了贡献。它的目的是加深对破坏文化财产对受影响社区的影响的了解。它将探讨与武装冲突后保护和恢复文化财产有关的实际挑战，并审议过渡司法程序能够在多大程度上有效应对文化财产被破坏所造成的损害。由于意识到给予精英的观点优先于受影响社区的危险，该项目还将分析谁的利益的修复性项目是根据谁的利益而设计和实施的，并将通过直接与受影响社区接触来挑战精英观点。方法本项目以柬埔寨为例进行研究。在柬埔寨，占少数的占族伊斯兰教徒在红色高棉政权期间遭受种族灭绝和宗教迫害，估计有130座清真寺被毁。许多Cham现在正在参与柬埔寨法院特别法庭的工作，在那里，一些被告面临与迫害和破坏文化财产有关的指控。如果被告被判有罪，该委员会有权对破坏文化财产造成的损害给予赔偿，但将依靠外部资金来源和组织来提供此类赔偿。因此，柬埔寨提供了一个机会，探讨法院、民间社会和国际行为者在应对文化财产破坏方面的作用，并提供与受影响社区交谈的机会。项目小组将与当地非政府组织柬埔寨文献中心(DC-CAM)合作，并将与受影响社区开展重点小组，以探讨文化财产被破坏对这些社区的影响。还将与参与其他地方修复项目的从业人员以及参与起诉文化遗产犯罪的个人进行面谈。这一项目将产生一些成果，这些成果有助于为今后对文化财产的破坏以及与文化遗产和文化多样性有关的发展作出的政策反应提供信息。与DC-Cam合作，项目组将制定：-关于多方行动者对破坏文化财产的发展对策的指导方针。-一项主张修复湛族文化财产的建议。具体地点将通过实地考察以及与当地行为者和民间团体协商确定。该提案将以法律提交的形式分发给ECCC。--一份更广泛的柬埔寨政策文件，供可能参与提供赔偿的组织使用。

IntroductionThe destruction of cultural property represents an attack on a community's history, cultural and religious activities and even identity, and can serve as a way to eliminate diversity and divergent historical narratives. Recent years have seen an increase in incidences of intentional destruction of cultural property during conflict, for example in Iraq and Syria. While established legal frameworks outline the obligation to protect cultural property during conflict, there has been little consideration of the ways in which different actors can respond to and make reparations for destruction which has already occurred. One development has been the growing recognition of the need to criminalise and prosecute attacks on cultural heritage, as evidenced in international criminal tribunals such as the International Criminal Court. However, challenges remain for those who would seek to respond to such harms, both in terms of the appropriate legal frameworks to be used, and in relation to the practical and ethical challenges associated with the restitution and restoration of cultural property. This project contributes to this emerging discussion. It aims to develop a 'thicker' understanding of the impact of the destruction of cultural property on the affected communities. It will explore the practical challenges associated with protecting and restoring cultural property after armed conflict, and consider to what extent transitional justice processes can effectively respond to the harm caused by the destruction of cultural property. Being aware of the the dangers associated with giving preferential treatment to the perspectives of elites over affected communities, the project will also analyse in whose interests' reparative projects are designed and implemented, and will aim to challenge elitist perspectives by engaging directly with affected communities. MethodsThe project uses Cambodia as a case study. In Cambodia, the Cham Islamic minority were were subjected to genocide and religious persecution during the Khmer Rouge regime, and an estimated 130 mosques were destroyed. Many Cham are now participating in the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, where a number of accused face charges related to persecution and the destruction of cultural property. The ECCC has the power to award reparations for harms resulting from the destruction of cultural property if the accused are found guilty of those crimes, but will rely on external sources of funding and organisation in order to deliver such reparations As a case study, Cambodia therefore provides an opportunity to explore the role of courts, civil society and international actors in responding to the destruction of cultural property, as well as offering an opportunity to speak with affected communities.The project team will collaborate with a local NGO known as the Documentation Centre for Cambodia (DC-Cam) and will conduct focus groups with affected communities, in order explore the impact of the destruction of cultural property on those communities. Interviews will also be conducted with practitioners involved in restoration projects elsewhere, and with individuals involved in the prosecution of cultural heritage crimes. OutputsThis project will produce outputs which help inform future policy responses to the destruction of cultural property and development in relation to cultural heritage and cultural diversity. Collaborating with DC-Cam, the project team will produce:- Guidelines on developmental multi-actor responses to the destruction of cultural property. - A proposal advocating for the restoration of Cham cultural property. The specific sites will be determined by fieldwork and consultation with local actors and civil parties. The proposal will be disseminated in the form of a legal submission to the ECCC.-A broader Cambodia policy document for organisations potentially involved in the provision of reparations.