The Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict under Polish Criminal Law

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine whether the Republic of Poland guarantees cultural property appropriate legal protection in the area of criminal law in the event of armed conflict. The author begins by analyzing the legal acts of international law and presenting the relevant regulations. In the next part of the paper, she examines the current provisions in Polish law. First, she explains the term “cultural property” and its relationship with the term “historic relic”. She then provides an exhaustive analysis of Article 125 of the Polish Penal Code, which is the main provision governing the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict. The author also discusses other relevant regulations of the Penal Code. She concludes by assessing the current state of Polish criminal law from the perspective of the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict.