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UNESCO celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention against the illicit trafficking of cultural property 15 and 16 March 2011 : UNESCO-CULTURE

UNESCO celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention against the illicit trafficking of cultural property 15 and 16 March 2011

From 15-03-2011   to   16-03-2011
 (Paris - France) 

    14 November 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. This pioneering international legal instrument addresses a rapidly evolving issue that is attracting a significant political, media, diplomatic, and legal attention. On the 40th anniversary of the Convention, UNESCO revisits the history of the convention, and takes stock of its accomplishments, its strength and its weaknesses and examines principal challenges.

    Sixteen years after the adoption of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocol of 1954, the international community decided to extend this protection by adopting the 1970 UNESCO Convention, to curb the increasing illicit international trafficking of cultural property. Under the provisions of this pioneering international treaty, States cooperate to protect the cultural property on their territory and fight its illicit import, export and transfer.

    The Convention plays a three-fold role

    It provides States Parties with measures to be taken at the national level, such as drawing up inventories and export certificates, imposing administrative or penal sanctions and carrying out information campaigns, etc.).

    The Convention also contains restitution provisions according to which States undertake appropriate steps to recover and return cultural property illicitly imported after the entry into force of the Convention for the States concerned, and admit legal proceedings brought by rightful owners to recover cultural property.

    Finally, the Convention provides an international cooperation framework, stipulating that import and export controls can be undertaken when a Member State’s cultural heritage is in jeopardy from pillage, and encouraging States to conclude bilateral agreements.

    Ratifications

    To date, the 1970 Convention has been ratified by 120 Member States of UNESCO, including many culture-rich countries as well as former hubs of illicit traffic. However, given the spectacular globalization of illegal trade of cultural objects in recent decades, it is essential that all countries join the ranks of States Parties to the Convention, to prevent further impoverishment of their own heritage, which also belongs to all of humanity.

    International cooperation

    To take international cooperation, UNIDROIT was asked by UNESCO to develop the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (1995), as a complementary instrument to the 1970 Convention. States commit to a uniform treatment for restitution of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects and allow restitution claims to be processed directly through national courts. Moreover the UNIDROIT Convention covers all stolen cultural objects, not just inventoried and declared ones and stipulates that all cultural property must be returned.

    Intergovernmental Committee

    To deal with cases outside the scope of the 1970 Convention or other international agreements, UNESCO set up the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation in 1978. This platform of negotiation, mediation and conciliation is intended to facilitate the restitution of important cultural objects such as the Parthenon sculptures or the Sphinx of Bogâzköy and to develop means to prevent and raise awareness about the combat against illicit trafficking.

    Awareness-raising

    In light of the problem of illegal excavations and trade of archaeological objects, the 1970 Convention now stands at a crossroads. Many UNESCO Member States would like to increase its visibility, improve its implementation at national level and carefully re-examine its future.

    Future perspective

    UNESCO has responded by organizing a media event on 15 and 16 March 2011. It will include a round table open to public and the press on the fight against the illicit traffic of cultural property, a press conference and a forum of reflections, intended for UNESCO Member States and leading experts, on the 1970 Convention and the illicit trafficking of the archaeological properties from illegal excavations. Both events will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.


    • Start date - Local time:   15- 03- 2011
    • End date - Local time:  16- 03- 2011
    • Event Location  :  UNESCO Headquarters
         
    • Country  :  France