Creation of a National Committee of the Blue Shield
StatutesGuidelines
The following draft aims at giving a facultative directive on the creation and adoption of statutes for National Committees of the Blue Shield. It shall serve the National Committees as a general model that they may adopt, change or complete according to the legislation and specific needs in their countries. Statutes of the National Committees of the Blue Shield will be submitted to the International Committee of the Blue Shield for official approval.
Statute
of the (nationality) Committee of the Blue Shield
Adopted in (place and date of adoption)
Emblem
The emblem ofthe (nationality) Committee of the Blue Shield is a buckler in the colours blue and white, officially introduced by the Hague Convention in 1954 for the protection of cultural assets. This badge is designated to be installed on monuments and buildings in order to protect them in case of armed conflict.
It has become the emblem of the International Committee of the Blue Shield.
Being the official emblem of the International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS), it shall be adopted by all the National Committees of the organisation.
Fundamental Principles
Charter of the International Committee of the Blue Shield
In order to protect endangered cultural heritage the International Committee of the Blue Shield was created in 1996 by the four non-governmental organisations which represent professionals active in the field of archives, libraries, monuments and sites, and museums.
Within the framework of the Hague Convention (1954) for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, ICA (International Council on Archives), ICOM (International Council of Museums), ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), and IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) have taken up the emblem of the Convention as its symbol[1].
The four organisations are working together to prepare for and respond to emergency situations in case of armed conflict or natural disaster that could affect cultural heritage.
They respect the following principles[2]:
-Joint actions
-Independence
-Neutrality
-Professionalism
-Respect of cultural identity
-Work on a not-for-profit basis
Adopted in Strasbourg on 14 April 2000.
The 2000 Charter of Strasbourg expressed the basic principles ruling the activities of the Blue Shield and its members. They were adopted by the International Committee of the Blue Shield at its meeting in Paris, 8 June 2001. The National Committees are asked to respect these principles.
Inspired by these principles, National Committees of the Blue Shield are encouraged to include and explain the principles that are ruling their activity in their legal statutes. National Committees of the Blue Shield are allowed to draft their own principles (also sometimes named “mission” or “vision”) when creating their legal statutes, as long as they respect the “spirit” of the principles expressed in the Charter.
Joint actions
The international Blue Shield network seeks to share information and knowledge with international partners from both heritage and non-heritage areas, as well as national government bodies, in order to coordinate and mobilise cross-sectorial joint actions that will better protect cultural heritage against natural and human-made disasters.
Independence
International Blue Shield is a self-governed, non-profit and non-governmental organisation operating independently on all matters of its mission. It provides its own expertise and seeks to work with partners in order to share information and coordinate joint actions.
Neutrality
International Blue Shield may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature. It shall maintain autonomy in order to act always according to its principles and mission.
Professionalism
International Blue Shield gathers and collaborates with experts out of professional bodies and commits its missions and action to them. It ensures that its experts provide the necessary experience and knowledge that is required for preparedness for and response to natural and human-made disasters. Therefore it aims to train experts and develop their skills to better act before, during, and after disasters.
Respect of cultural identity
International Blue Shield respects the cultural identity of all humankind and seeks to protect the cultural heritage of humanity without any bias.
Work on a not-for-profit basis
International Blue Shield and its members are not seeking profit and work on a voluntary basis.
Chapter 1 – General dispositions
Object
The following expresses the main objects of the international Blue Shield, as mentioned in several official texts. National Committees are free to develop and enlarge them, as long as they are in concordance with the mission and principles agreed by the ICBS.
The primary objectives of the (nationality) Committee of the Blue Shield are:
Protection of cultural heritage
-The respect for, protection and safeguard of cultural assets in case of major catastrophes, menaces to the state’s interior security and armed conflict, while acting within an ethical and professional framework.
Awareness-raising
-The national and international awareness-raising on the type ofrisksthatendanger cultural heritage and the required needs to bring a concrete response;
-The promotion of The 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict and its two protocols (1954 and 1999), of its ratification and its full national implementation by concerned government.
Training and emergency preparedness
-The promotion of a better preparation of concerned professionals against the menaces that are striking cultural heritage;
-The coordination of national capacity-building to train these professionals in the areas of preparedness and response against natural and human-made disasters.
Cross-sectorial cooperation
-The development and maintenance of national, regional and local networks based on the networks of the five NGOs, and including governmental authorities, representatives of military authorities, meteorological agencies, disaster reduction agencies, emergency services, cultural organisations, civil emergency services and humanitarian organisations;
-The close cooperation withthe members of these networksaiming at better protecting cultural heritage in emergency situations;
-The identification of common resources.
Post-disaster planning
-The creation of an adequate methodology for accurate post-disaster damage assessment;
-The dissemination of Blue Shield official statements pertaining to emergency situations;
-The planning of adequate post-disaster cross-sectorial response/recovery measures;
-The support of any action aiming at replying to the threats provoked by cultural emergencies.
The statutes of the National Committees of the Blue Shield should also give details about theirgeographic area of activity, the location of their headquarters, and their national legal status.
Accession
The accession to the (nationality) Committeeof the Blue Shield is open to.………..
Membership status can be.…………..
The accession to National Committees is usually open to everyone. Membership status can be of different forms (active, associative, honorary, etc.), and their denomination belongs to the National Committees of the Blue Shield.
The accession is open to people willing to physically or morally support and respect the present statute and the fundamental principles of the (nationality) Committee of the Blue Shield. The engagement in the Committees’ field of activity is a voluntary contribution.
The establishment of membership fees is not an obligation, but is encouraged. Membership fees can be minimal, as they seal the engagement of the members towards the missions of the Blue Shield.
Membership duration (generally fixed to one year) and renewal process depends on the decision of the National Committee, but should be indicated in the present statutes.
Members of the (nationality) Committee of the Blue Shield are forbidden to use the name and reputation of the Blue Shield in order to conduct any commercial or lucrative activity.
Membership status
The following categories are just examples of membership status that can be applied by National Committees in their respective countries.
- Active member
Active membership status can be accessed by:
-Anyone who is a member of ICOM, ICA, ICOMOS, IFLA and CCAAAin the concerned country;
-Heritage professionals, active or not, and heritage institutions;
-Civil defence professionals and services involved in the protection of cultural heritage (fire brigade, police…);
-Military personnel and services that are concerned by the protection of cultural heritage (air force, marine…);
-Students in these fields;
-Regional and local authorities and public institutions dedicated to the conservation and protection of cultural property;
-NGOs aiming at the protection of cultural heritage;
-Any individual having an active role in the framework of the missions of the Blue Shield and respecting its fundamental principles.
- Supporting / Associated member
Associated membership status can be accessed by every person, who wishes to express their support to the National Committee.
- Benefactor / Honorary member
Honorary membership can be granted to every person who has provided exceptional services to the (nationality) Committee of the Blue Shield.
Loss of membership
The membership status ends:
-In case ofresignation;
-In case of death;
-In case of cancellation pronounced by the (nationality) Committee of the Blue Shield(non-payment of membership fees, disrespect for the fundamental principles of the –nationality – Committee of the Blue Shield).
Chapter 2 – National instances
All members of the following bodies potentially created by National Committees of the Blue Shield should carry out their duty on a voluntary basis.
Executive Office / board
The Executive Office (the board) administrates all the activities of the National Committee, on a permanent basis. Its elected / appointed members are officially recognised by ICBS. The board is usually composed by the national representatives of the four founding organisations of ICBS (ICA, ICOM, ICOMOS and IFLA), and possibly from two up to four additional persons coming from organisations concerned by the missions of the Blue Shield, or personally dedicated to them.
All the National Committees are expected to have an Executive Office. The Statutes of the National Committees should give details about its operation (composition, role and attributions, modalities and function, revocation, etc.).
Chairperson
All National Committees of the Blue Shield are expected to appoint a President within their board. The statutes of the National Committees should give details about the way they are elected (by the General Assembly or the Administrative Council) / appointed and revoked, their role and attributions with regards to the ruling principles of the Blue Shield, the duration of their mandate, etc.
Vice-Chair
National Committees are free to appoint one of the members of the board as Vice-President to represent the President if required so.
Secretary
National Committees are free to appointone of the members of the board as Secretary and give precisions about its role and attributions, and all related general dispositions.
Treasurer
National Committees are free to appointone of the members of the board asTreasurer and give precisions about its role and attributions, and all related general dispositions in their statutes.
National Administrative Council
With regards to their size, National Committees of the Blue Shield are free to decide about the establishment of a National Administrative Council, and explain its operation (general dispositions, role and mission, voting members, voting process, length of the mandates, etc.).
A National Administrative Council is usually composed by the President, the administrators of the organisation (i.e. the Executive Office / board), andnational representatives from the five member organisations of ICBS – if they are not already the members of the board. It can also be composed by representatives of governmental and non-governmental bodies (defence, civil security, foreign affairs, culture and heritage, new technologies, education, humanitarian, etc.). The Administrative Council has regular meetings and makes decision on all the activities and operation of the National Committee.
General Assembly
With regards to their size, National Committees of the Blue Shield are free to decide about the establishment of a General Assembly, and explain in detail its operation (general dispositions, meetings, role, voting members, voting procedures, etc.) in their statutes.
A General Assembly is usually composed by all the members of the National Committee. The General Assembly has regular meetings, and votes for the election of the President, as well as the Administrative Council. It acknowledges decisions on the general axis of future actions of the organisation, and the funding operation.
Chapter 3 – Local sections
Depending on their size, National Committees can decide the establishment of local sections of the Blue Shield and give precisions about their operation in their statutes.
Chapter 4 – Funding process and resources
National Committees of the Blue Shield are expected to give information about their funding process and their use of resources in the statutes they would submit to the International Committee of the Blue Shield.
Chapter 5 – Modification of the statute and dissolution
In their statutes, National Committees are invited to agree on the regulations concerning the modification of the statute and extraordinary case of dissolution.
1
Creation of a National Committee of the Blue Shield – Statutes guidelines
[1] These four founding members were joined in 2005 by CCAAA (Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations).
[2] Approved by the International Committee of the Blue Shield at its meeting in Paris, 8th June 2001.