Lieutenant-Colonel Chavi Walsh, Canadian Armed Forces, The Riga Conference 2025

Описание: For the first time in 20 years, the “Riga Conference” featured a discussion on the protection of cultural heritage in crisis situations. Culture is the foundation of our identity and an essential part of our shared security!

Many thanks to the discussion participants — Dr. Frederik Rosén, Director of the Nordic Center for Cultural Heritage and Armed Conflict, and Colonel Chavi Walsh of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Agnese Lāce, Minister for Culture of Latvia


At the 2025 Riga Conference, Lieutenant-Colonel Chavi Walsh, Senior Legal Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces in Latvia, emphasized the renewed importance of protecting cultural property during crisis — marking the first time in two decades that the conference has addressed this issue. Drawing on personal experiences that began with witnessing the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan and the attacks of September 11th, LCol Walsh described how these moments shaped his commitment to safeguarding both human life and cultural heritage. He underscored that cultural destruction is not collateral damage but a deliberate weapon of war — one that erases memory, identity, and dignity.

LCol Walsh outlined Canada’s legal and ethical approach to warfare, highlighting the independence of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) in ensuring accountability and legitimacy across military operations. He stressed that protecting cultural property is not only a legal duty under the 1954 Hague Convention but a moral and strategic imperative that underpins operational success and public trust. Canada’s leadership in Latvia, he noted, demonstrates its commitment to defending sovereignty, culture, and the rule of law alongside NATO allies. In his words, “The rule of law is not a weakness; it is our strength — it transforms power into legitimacy and victory into justice.”