Heritage protection starts in times of peace. The 1954 Hague Convention and its two protocols provide guidelines to adopt measures to be implemented before, during and after conflict. Therefore, synergies between World Heritage and other relevant conventions and instruments, e.g. the 1970 Convention against Illicit Trafficking and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, must be reinforced. In peace time, a sound civil and military cooperation shall guarantee effective protection mechanisms to be used amid crisis. In recent conflicts, conventions provided very limited heritage protection. Preventive measures, risk preparedness and awareness raising, as well as share of good practices for people-centred response, recovery and reconstruction are particularly relevant in this juncture. Initiatives for cultural heritage protection in extreme situations, including conflicts and terrorist attacks, should be intensified also making widespread use of new technologies. This is why we call for a direct involvement of NGOs and civil society at large.