CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

As the third installment in the 2024 Handbook Series on Children in Armed Conflict by the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict, this volume explores the profound and often overlooked relationship between cultural heritage protection and the rights of children in times of war.
Armed conflicts not only devastate communities but also erase cultural heritage, severing children from the traditions, history, and identities that ground their sense of belonging.
This handbook brings together leading experts to analyze how the destruction of cultural heritage impacts children’s lives, from disrupting education and displacing communities to undermining mental well-being and cultural continuity.
Through case studies, legal frameworks, and interdisciplinary insights, this essential volume highlights the urgent need for strategies that integrate cultural heritage protection with children’s rights. It underscores the importance of preserving cultural landmarks, traditions, and knowledge as part of safeguarding children’s futures and fostering post-conflict recovery.
An indispensable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, this handbook offers actionable pathways to ensure that protecting culture and children’s rights go hand in hand, even amidst the chaos of armed conflict.