UN human rights expert Karima Bennoune [official profile] on Wednesday urged [press release] the international community to help end the destruction of cultural heritage. Referencing a 24-page report [materials], Bennoune explained how destruction of culture often goes unnoticed and unpunished though it is “most often irreversible” and utilized as a weapon of warfare for cultural cleansing. The report then discussed the importance of treating destruction of culture as a human rights issue stating that “[i]t is impossible to separate a people’s cultural heritage from the people itself and that people’s rights.” The report concluded imploring the international community to “effectively prevent and stop intentional destruction of cultural heritage as a violation of human rights” listing possible solutions such as expediting the issuance of visas and granting asylum to the at-risk.

Earlier this year the International Criminal Court (ICC) the Hague opened its first war crimes hearing [JURIST report]for destruction of religious or cultural heritage allowing the confirmation of charges against Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi for destruction of religious and cultural heritage. Al Faqi was turned over [JURIST report] to the ICC by Nigerian authorities in September pursuant to an arrest warrant issued earlier that month. In 2012 this investigation into the terrorist attacks was encouraged by the Malian Justice Minister Malick Couliably after the ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda stated [JURIST reports] that the attacks in Mali would not be tolerated and would be considered war crimes. Much of the turmoil associated with the current situation in Mali arose from the president of Mali’s removal from office and the military take over of the government by the Taureg rebels earlier in 2012.