The Norwegian Blue Shield Committee in 2005 consisted of Frode Bakken (IFLA), Axel Mykleby (ICOMOS), Leif Pareli (ICOM) (chair) and Synne Stavheim (ICA). The committee had four meetings during the year and frequent contact by e-mail.

Cooperation with Red Cross
An important development in 2005 was the establishment of cooperation with the Norwegian Red Cross. In December 2004 the two organizations had marked the 50th anniversary of the Hague Convention of 1954 with a joint press article calling for Norway’s ratification of the Second protocol. In May 2005 a joint conference was organized with participants from various government ministries and agencies as well as the military forces and several organizations working with cultural heritage. Several important issues were raised at the conference, which also contributed to a closer contact between Blue Shield and Red Cross and intentions of future joint projects.

Ratification of the Second protocol
After the conference in May, there was optimism that Norway would ratify the Second protocol in time for the first state party meeting of the protocol in Paris in October. However, ratification was postponed because the Ministry of Justice pointed out that a change in the Criminal Code would be necessary; such changes can not be done until 2007. The Blue Shield Committee will continue to press for ratification.

National advisory committee
The conference also pointed to the Hague Convention’s resolution II (1954), calling for the establishment of a national advisory committee concerning cultural heritage. In a letter to the Ministry of the Environment after the conference, Blue Shield Norway advocated the establishment of such a committee and volunteered to participate. BS will continue to work for the establishment of this committee.

Education of military personnel
This topic, also on the agenda of the May conference, was followed up with several contacts with the Military Academy during the next months. By the end of the year it was agreed to give a lecture and workshop in January for personnel heading for service in Afghanistan.

Other activities
In March, committee chairman Leif Pareli gave a presentation of The Hague Convention and the Blue Shield at a seminar organized by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee dealing with the reconciliation process in Bosnia-Hercegovina focussed on the town of Stolac.

In June, he published an article in ICOM News about the Blue Shield and Red Cross cooperation in Norway.

In August Axel Mykleby, in his capacity of ICOMOS executive council member, was invited as a guest participant at the IFLA board meeting in Oslo and used this opportunity to underline the need for stronger Blue Shield commitment in all the four founding organizations.

Status by the end of the year
The cooperation established with the Red Cross and contacts with the Military Academy were two important achievements in 2005 to be continued in 2006. Also, Blue Shield Norway will continue to work for implementation of The Hague Convention, the ratification of the Second protocol, and a government initiative to create a national emergency plan for cultural heritage.

At the same time, we realize that Blue Shield has a weak basis in the participating organizations in Norway. Knowledge about Blue Shield and goodwill towards its work must be strengthened within the organizations. It is also important to strengthen Blue Shield work in an international context, among other things by stimulating contact and cooperation between existing national Blue Shield committees and between national committees and the ICBS. The present English-language Annual Report is one contribution to this.


Oslo March 15th 2006.

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