The International Day of Monuments and Sites is celebrated every year on 18 April with a theme recommended by the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). This year’s theme is: Cultural Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts.

The concept and characteristics of “disaster” in SENDAI – Framework for disaster risk reduction for the period 2015-2030 are defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society, which results in widespread human, material, economic or ecological losses that exceed the ability of the threatened community or society to react using its own resources.

All cultural and historical assets, regardless of the status and levels at which they are protected, are exposed to different types of dangers and disasters. Sometimes the impact is cause-and-effect (cascading), i.e. one produces the other and together they can lead to catastrophic consequences.

In the recent period, the importance of cultural-historical heritage has been recognized, so in the event of a disaster, it is not only classified as economic losses, but also non-economic ones, which include mortality, mobility and loss of mental health. The loss of cultural and historical heritage is not only an irreparable material and cultural loss, but also a factor that is crucial for the preservation of society and social well-being.

Therefore, the identification of risks on the basis of which it is necessary to draw up a Disaster Risk Management Plan, which will be carried out actively and continuously, is an urgent procedure that is emphasized as such by the Sendai Framework. The Sendai framework defines the goal of creating the Plan, which emphasizes that it is necessary to more effectively protect people, communities and states, their existence, health, cultural heritage, socio-economic assets and eco-systems, as well as strengthening their resilience.

The Institute for the Protection of Monuments that operates as a part of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports participates in cooperation with UNESCO in the development of disaster risk management plans with the aim of improving the protection of the World Heritage site – stećci medieval tombstones, as well as other cultural assets. Activities are carried out through the joint program “Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina” supported and financed by the Government of Switzerland, the United Nations (UN) and the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and carried out by United Nations agencies in communities with a high risk of disasters.