The building of the Palanga Mayor Jonas Šliūpas Museum, a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania, has been distinguished with the “Blue Shield” emblem. This symbol represents stability and balance. It marks culturally significant heritage sites subject to protective measures under the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

The Blue Shield mandates that warring parties neither destroy nor utilize such marked properties for military purposes. It also prohibits the removal of cultural valuables from these sites to other countries and their seizure as war reparations. The primary goal is to foster respect among armed forces personnel for the culture and cultural heritage of all nations.

According to the Second Protocol of the Hague Convention, the Blue Shield designation ensures that destruction or damage to such marked properties during armed conflict is treated as a war crime, subjecting perpetrators to international criminal liability and prosecution. The Hague Convention was adopted in 1954, ratified by Lithuania in 1998, and currently has 136 ratifying countries—including Russia (!) and Ukraine. This fact holds particular significance in today’s geopolitical context.

In Lithuania, 141 immovable cultural heritage objects—castles, churches, monasteries, manor estates, historical palaces, and other nationally significant structures—are included in the list of properties marked with the UNESCO emblem due to their exceptional cultural value and highest level of national protection.

The Palanga Mayor Jonas Šliūpas Museum building was listed in the Lithuanian Register of Immovable Cultural Properties in 1993, granting it regional significance as an immovable cultural heritage property (unique object code 10781).

Photo: Mindaugas Surblys