The Cooperation Council of the Swedish National Museum Organizations strongly condemns the invasion of Ukraine and urge Russia to respect the 1954 Hague Convention.
The Council of the Swedish National Museums strongly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We regret the loss of human life, and we fear irreparable damages to the cultural heritage.
We have received alarming reports from colleagues in Ukraine, struggling to protect and preserve objects and collections. As fellow colleagues we pay our respect to the work of museum professionals safeguarding the cultural heritage of Ukraine.
Russia has ratified UNESCO:s 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1954 Hague Convention. By doing so Russia has committed to protecting Cultural Heritage. We urge the Russian leadership to respect the Convention and to fulfil its promise to spare museums and collections from attacks and destruction.
– Museum collections has become a target in conflicts around the world. Not only have collections been looted and sold for monetary gain, they have also been stolen or destroyed to deprive nations and peoples of their past. This is a crime against international law, says Ann Follin, chairperson of the Council of Swedish National Museums.
Directors of the Swedish National Museums:
Moderna museet
National Centre for Architecture and Design
National Historical Museums
Nationalmuseum
Nordiska museet
Skansen
The National Swedish Museums of Military History
Swedish Performing Arts Agency
The Museum of Science and Technology
The Museum of Work
The National Museums of World Culture
The Swedish Museum of Natural History
The Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums
