International Law Protecting Cultural Property in Armed Conflict

International humanitarian law provides significant protections for cultural property during armed conflict, as demonstrated by the case of the Old Bridge in Mostar. The study clarifies that both treaty-based and customary international law apply to the destruction of the bridge, which occurred during the Croat-Muslim conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It highlights two key tests—direct intervention and overall control—to assess the applicability of these legal frameworks. By analyzing the nature of the conflict and the legal instruments in place, the research underscores that cultural property, such as the Old Bridge, is not merely secondary to personal protection but is subject to robust international safeguards.

Petrovic, J. (2013). International Law Protecting Cultural Property in Armed Conflict. The Old Bridge of Mostar and Increasing Respect for Cultural Property in Armed Conflict, 89–118. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004235540_005