Switzerland commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1970 UNESCO Convention

From 31-05-2010   to   02-06-2010
 (Bern - Suisse) 

• © www.kpmbern.ch, Bruno Prandi
• Statuette in terra cotta from the centre of Nigeria (imitation)

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1970 UNESCO Convention Switzerland has organized a study day and an exhibition named ‘For Sale? La Contrebande des biens culturels et la douane’. By ratifying the 1970 UNESCO Convention in 2003, it has put an end to its longstanding reputation of being a focal point for illicit trade of cultural property. Today Switzerland is home to the fourth biggest art dealer market in the world, after the United States, France and England. Yet up till 2005 it did not have any national legislation regulating the trade of cultural property. With the federal law on the international transfer of cultural property (LTCP), Switzerland implemented the 1970 UNECO Convention. The LTCP entered into force on the 1st of June 2005.

To ensure the enforcement of the LTCP, specialized service International transfer of cultural property has been set up under the Federal Office for Culture (FOC).

The LTCP not only regulates on the internal level, it also allows Switzerland to enter into international bilateral agreements. Switzerland has done so with Italy and Peru in 2006, with Greece in 2007 and Columbia and Egypt in 2010. These bilateral agreements offer the State Parties extra protection for the cultural property that is of significant importance to their cultural heritage and allow them to offer mutual legal aid when illegal importation occurs.

Lastly, Switzerland considerably supports UNESCO in the fight against illicit traffic of cultural property, in particular through the financial contributions of its Federal Office for Culture. These are essential for the development of awareness-raising projects on illicit traffic of cultural property, such as films, video-clips, educational games for children, etc.

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