The International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan last week to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage sites during ongoing conflict in the region. This ruling has potential to go beyond the South Caucasus region and create a benchmark for all such conflict zones around the world. The significance of the ruling extends beyond this one region. As UNESCO has proven relatively powerless to protect cultural heritage at risk in conflict zones, the World Court now emerges as a body that may be better able to safeguard irreplaceable cultural treasures and protect minority rights from the abuses of racial discrimination. The 7th-century Armenian church of Vankasar in Azerbaijan. Photo: Caucasus Heritage Watch Cornell University resear...
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