Laws protecting monuments by country explained

Throughout the world, different laws exist that protect monuments.

International law

Under international criminal law, monuments are considered a type of cultural heritage and their systematic destruction is prohibited by various international agreements.^[1]

By country

Austria

Austrian laws protecting and preserving monuments have existed since 1853. The current law dates from 1923, and also protects the historic centers of Salzburg, Graz, and Vienna. The Federal Monuments Office oversees monuments protection.^[2]

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Commission to Preserve National Monuments oversees monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[3]

France

The number of protected monuments in France has increased, so has the budget for maintaining them.^{[4] [5]}

Germany

German law protects monuments from being destroyed during redevelopment.^[6]

Hungary

Like other countries, Hungary has laws to regulate and protect historical monuments.^[7]

Poland

See main article: Profaning a monument.

Thailand

See main article: Cultural heritage conservation in Thailand. The main legislation covering the protection of historical monuments in Thailand is the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums, B.E. 2504 (1961).

United Kingdom

See main article: Scheduled monument.

In the UK, a bill against desecration of war memorials is being considered.^{[8] [9]}

United States

See also: National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 protects historic sites in the United States, including monuments.^[10]

A Pennsylvania law states that a person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he: (1) intentionally desecrates any public monument or structure, or place of worship or burial; or (2) intentionally desecrates any other object of veneration by the public or a substantial segment thereof in any public place; Desecrate means defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise physically mistreating in a way that the actor knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the action.^[11]

Further reading

• Book: Brown . Gerard Baldwin . Gerard Baldwin Brown . The Care of Ancient Monuments: An Account of the Legislative and Other Measures Adopted in European Countries for Protecting Ancient Monuments and Objects and Scenes of Natural Beauty, and for Preserving the Aspect of Historical Cities . 1906 . Cambridge University Press . en.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cultural Heritage. 10.1093/law:epil/9780199231690/e1392. Oxford Public International Law. 2013. Francesco. Francioni. 9780199231690.
2. Web site: Monuments, Protection and Rehabilitation Zonesof Vienna. Genesis and status in legislation andadministration. Klein . Caroline . 2018 . knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net. 2020-09-12.
3. Musi . Maja . The international heritage doctrine and the management of heritage in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: the case of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments . International Journal of Heritage Studies . 2014 . 20 . 1 . 54–71 . 10.1080/13527258.2012.709191. 143834667 .
4. Benhamou . Francoise . Françoise Benhamou . Is increased public spending for the preservation of historic monuments inevitable? The French case . Journal of Cultural Economics . 1996 . 20 . 2 . 115–131 . 10.1007/BF00128912. 189888342 .
5. Book: Benhamou . Françoise . Economic Perspectives on Cultural Heritage . 1997 . Palgrave Macmillan UK . 978-1-349-25824-6 . 196–210 . en . Conserving Historic Monuments in France: A Critique of Official Policies.
6. Book: Maennig . Wolfgang . Understanding German Real Estate Markets . 2017 . Springer International Publishing . 978-3-319-32031-1 . 225–236 . https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-32031-1_16 . en . Monument Protection and Zoning: Regulations and Public Support from an International Perspective. Management for Professionals . 10.1007/978-3-319-32031-1_16 .
7. Derer . Beatrice . Architecture and the Protection of Historical Monuments in the Hungarian Legislation . LOGOS, UNIVERSALITY, MENTALITY, EDUCATION, NOVELTY. Section: Law . 2012 . I . 1 . 149–162 . English . 2284-5968.
8. Web site: Desecration of War Memorials Bill 2019-21 — UK Parliament. 2020-08-30. services.parliament.uk.
9. Web site: Corrigan. Phil. 2020-06-23. City MP's war memorial desecration bill passes first hurdle in Parliament. 2020-08-30. StokeonTrentLive.
10. Web site: ACHP Policy Statement on Controversial Commemorative Works Advisory Council on Historic Preservation . www.achp.gov . 19 September 2020.
11. Web site: Pennsylvania Statutes Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses § 5509. 2020-08-30. Findlaw. en-US.