ABSTRACT
The protection of cultural heritage was included in the founding mission statement of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), an organization to bring together museums and museum professionals in the post-World War II world. Seven decades later, the protection of heritage in emergency situations, and the fight against illicit traffic in cultural goods, is central to the work of ICOM. The following paper will illustrate how a dynamic programme of activities, including the development of innovative tools based on clear ethical guidelines, has ensured ICOM’s role as a major international player in the protection of cultural heritage. This is a much-needed role and commitment to action by ICOM, in a period where the world is witnessing the most severe upsurge in attacks on cultural property through armed conflict since ICOM was formed in 1946.
