Flags of Protection

Last modified: 1997-09-03 by zeljko heimer
Keywords: protection | international | red cross | roerich treaty |
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• Flags that Protect
• Roerich Treaty

• Cultural Monument flag used in Croatia in 1990's

Flags that Protect

The Red Cross (and Crescent and Star of David I assume) is recognised under international law as a symbol of protection, and has in general been recognised as uch by combatants. (Yes, I'm sure we can all think of examples where it hasn't, but in general it is.)

The red cross on a white field is a symbol protected under international law, and in theory any use of it except as a symbol of medical/hospital facilities, is illegal. I think many countries have enacted this into their domestic law.

Similarly I believe the UN flag has been used to mark areas or places under UN protection. I think it's only fair to say that its record is rather less successful. 8-(

roy stilling 07-MAR-1996

Roerich Treaty

Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historic Monuments

15 April 1935

The High Contracting Parties, animated by the purpose of giving conventional form to the postulates of the Resolution approved on December 16, 1933, by all the States represented at the Seventh International Conference of American States, held at Montevideo, which recommended to "the Governments of America which have not yet done so that they sign the 'Roerich Pact', initiated by the Roerich Museum in the United States, and which has as its object, the universal adoption of a flag, already designed and generally known, in order thereby to preserve in any time of danger all nationally and privately owned immovable monuments which form the cultural treasure of peoples", have resolved to conclude a treaty with that end in view, and to the effect that the treasures of culture be respected and protected in time of war and in peace, have agreed upon the following articles:

........

ARTICLE III

In order to identify the monuments and institutions mentioned in article I, use may be made of a distinctive flag (red circle with a triple red sphere in the circle on a white background) in accordance with the model attached to this treaty.

.....

signed by the US and other Pan-American Union states.