Babi Yar is now under the “protection” of UNESCO: why is this important for Israel and Ukraine?

National Historic Memorial Preserve “Babi Yar”located in Kyiv (Ukraine), has officially entered the International List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection.

In the context of Russian aggression, Ukraine is faced with the massive destruction of its cultural infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine:

• In 1022 days of war, Russia destroyed 1222 cultural heritage sites.
• This includes not only architectural monuments, but also museums, archives and archaeological collections.

The decision was made at a meeting held on December 11, 2024 19th meeting of the “UNESCO Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict”.

International List of Cultural Properties under Enhanced Protection of UNESCO is a special register that was created within the framework of Hague Convention 1954 and aims to protect cultural heritage sites during armed conflicts.

This step emphasizes the importance of preserving the memory of tragic events in human history and is a symbol of resistance to attempts to destroy the identity of the Ukrainian nation.

The history of Babyn Yar: a memory that must live

Babi Yar – This is the site of one of the most terrible crimes of the Second World War. In September 1941, the Nazis executed here in two days 33,771 Jewsresidents of Kyiv.

“Babi Yar reminds us of the darkest pages of human history. This memorial emphasizes the importance of memory and the fight against hatred,” said Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Anastasia Bondar.

Today, the memorial complex not only perpetuates the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, but also unites the efforts of Ukraine and the world community in the fight for the preservation of historical heritage.

UNESCO's role: protecting cultural heritage in times of war

Key steps of UNESCO:

1. Enabling 26 cultural heritage sites of Ukraine to the list under enhanced protection.
2. Introduction of the mechanism special monitoringwhich will be used for the first time in Ukraine, starting with the State Industry House in Kharkov.
3. Call for international legal responsibility for the destruction of cultural objects.

Odessa Literary Museum: another symbol of perseverance

Together with Babyn Yar, it came under the protection of UNESCO. Odessa Literary Museum – a cultural symbol of the city, which is subjected to daily Russian shelling.

The museum, founded in 1977, is a repository of more 50,000 exhibitsrelated to the history of literature in the south of Ukraine.

International List of Cultural Properties under Enhanced Protection of UNESCO

International List of Cultural Properties under Enhanced Protection of UNESCO is a special register that was created within the framework of Hague Convention 1954 and aims to protect cultural heritage sites during armed conflicts. This list complements UNESCO's efforts to preserve cultural properties that are at risk of destruction or destruction.

Main goals of the list:

1. Protection in conditions of war. Objects on this list receive special international protection status, which prohibits any attack or use for military purposes.
2. Recognition of unique value. These objects are considered significant not only for a specific country, but also for all humanity.
3. Heritage preservation. Help preserve cultural monuments that are at risk of destruction due to conflict, occupation or other threats.

What objects can be included in the list?

To be included in this list, an object must:

• Have outstanding historical, cultural or archaeological value.
• Be prepared for defense (eg, have evacuation plans, access to necessary resources for conservation).
• Under threat of destruction as a result of armed conflict.

How does the enhanced protection mechanism work?

• Legal liability. Any attack on a target on the list is considered a war crime.
• Monitoring. UNESCO may carry out regular inspections of the condition of the site and its safety.
• International assistance. If a facility is threatened, international organizations or partner countries can provide assistance to protect it.

How is it different from the UNESCO World Heritage List?

• World Heritage List includes objects that are of outstanding importance for world culture and nature. These objects are protected on a global level, but mainly in peacetime.
• List under enhanced protection focused on protecting objects precisely during military conflicts, when the risk of their destruction is especially high.

What objects are included in the list?

Today, the list includes both cultural heritage monuments and museums, archives and other important objects. Examples of such objects are:

• Temple complexes in conflict zones (for example, Syria).
• Museums and libraries with unique collections.
• Historical memorials such as National Historical and Memorial Reserve “Babi Yar”.

The inclusion of the property in this list confirms its exceptional significance and the need to preserve it for future generations.

Significance for Israel: cultural bridges between the Jewish and Ukrainian peoples

The inclusion of Babyn Yar on the list under UNESCO protection is of particular significance for Israel, where a significant portion of the descendants of Ukrainian Jews live.

Common features in the history of the two peoples:

• The Jewish community of Kyiv was one of the largest in Eastern Europe.
• The tragedy of Babyn Yar is one of the most painful pages in Jewish and Ukrainian history.
• Israel actively supports Holocaust remembrance efforts.

Cooperation between Ukraine and Israel in the field of preserving historical heritage serves as an important cultural bridge uniting both peoples.

“Preserving the memory of the victims of Babyn Yar is the common duty of our countries to future generations,” says the portal’s appeal NAnews – Israel News.

International response: what are they saying in the world?

At the meeting of the UNESCO Committee, participants expressed deep concern about the deliberate destruction of the cultural sector of Ukraine by Russian troops.

Key statements:

• The international community has called on Russia to stop attacks on cultural sites.
• The Minister of Culture of Ukraine emphasized the importance of creating international legal mechanisms for the protection of cultural heritage.
• UNESCO representatives assured of their readiness to strengthen monitoring and support of Ukrainian sites.

Review of cultural sites of Ukraine under UNESCO protection

What's next?

The inclusion of Babyn Yar and the Odessa Literary Museum in the UNESCO list is only the first step. Ukraine is actively working to expand the list of objects under protection and attract international attention to the problems of preserving cultural heritage.

Portal NAnews – Israel News continues to monitor developments and inform its readers about key initiatives in the field of preserving world cultural memory.

Conclusion

Preserving the memory of the tragedies of the past is the basis for building a peaceful future. In times of war, the efforts of Ukraine and the international community to protect cultural sites acquire special significance.

For Israel and Ukraine, the preservation of Babyn Yar is a reminder of what unites our peoples: memory, history and the desire for peace.

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