The Blue Shield is the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross.  It is the protective symbol specified in the 1954 Hague Convention for marking cultural sites to give them protection from attack in the event of armed conflict.  It is also the name of the International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS) set up in 1996 to work to protect the world’s cultural heritage threatened by wars and natural disasters.

In September 2005 the Blue Shield Australia (BSA) committee was formed  with a mission to influence disaster preparedness and emergency management in Australia in relation to threats of all kinds, in order to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage in Australia’s area of responsibility and interest.

BSA is a federation of Australian appointed representatives of four of the pillar bodies which make up the ICBS.  These Australian representatives are:

For the International Council of Archives:  The Australian members of the ICA, meeting under the auspices of the Council of Australasian Archives and Records Authorities. CAARA is represented at these meetings by the Australian Society of Archivists: ASA
For the International Council of Museums:  ICOM Australia
For the International Council of Monuments and Sites:  Australia ICOMOS
For the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions:  The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)

Since September 2005 CAARA has supported BSA and its mission.

For more information contact Blue Shield Australia’s secretariat at info@blueshieldaustralia.org.au, or call
(03) 8341 7130.