Over the past several years, UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the globe have been jeopardized by warfare, political instability, and other security concerns. UNESCO World Heritage Sites have become exceptionally vulnerable to increasing threats by States and non-State actors that endanger their integrity and universal value. The pillaging of archeological sites has also reached an industrial scale.

How can States, international organizations and civil society respond to protect and preserve World Heritage Sites belonging to all humankind and cultural property that forms an integral part of a civilization's identity and memory?

This panel will shed light on recent events that have contributed to endangering cultural property, and will analyze the challenges faced in safeguarding cultural property and World Heritage Sites. To this effect, the panel's discussion will address a range of questions, including:

• What are the current challenges facing World Heritage Sites and cultural property? What are some recent examples?
• Can and should the international community intervene where a State home to endangered cultural heritage is intrasigent or, worse yet, is itself desecrating cultural property?
• How can the international community - including the public and private sectors locally and internationally - play their part in protecting cultural property? What are the most effective fora for efficacious action?
• Can cross-border enforcement and mutual assistance aid in recovering stolen artifacts?

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:

• Dr. Alie Kabba, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations
• Yolannie Cerrato Corrales, Deputy Permanent Representative of Honduras to the United Nations
• His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

MODERATOR-DISCUSSANT:

• Christina Hioureas, Partner, International Litigation & Arbitration and Chair, United Nations Practice Group, Foley Hoag LLP

PANELISTS:

• Professor Karima Bennoune, U.N. Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights and Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law
• Professor Heghnar Watenpaugh, Professor of Art and Architecture, University of California Davis
• Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Faculty Directly, Initiative on Religion, Law, and Diplomacy, The Fletcher School at Tufts University
• Dr. Brian Daniels, Director of Research and Programs for the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania Museum
• Professor Bissera Pentcheva, Department of Art & Art History, Stanford University