In this essay, Thomas G. Weiss considers whether the responsibility to protect, or R2P, framework can extend to attacks on cultural heritage. Weiss argues that because violence against heritage is so closely entwined with violence against people, R2P can be brought to bear on these instances of conflict, offering a way to protect both heritage and people. He suggests that existing legal frameworks are adequate to achieve this goal, but in order to do so, the international community faces both political challenges and a normative shift.
