Sub-regional training workshop on the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property in the Andean region/Central America
Lima, Peru, 3-5 December 2013
This workshop is a follow-up to the previous training held in Lima from 22 to 25 October 2012 to reinforce capacities and raise awareness on the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
I - Training
The workshop focused on:
- advances in national legislation on the protection of cultural property, especially with regards to the protection of pre-Columbian and baroque cultural property in this region;
- advances in the preparedness and preventive action and emergency response of police forces in the event of illicit trafficking;
- improved use of tools for the protection of cultural property, creation and development of new tools at national and regional levels, especially as regards the inventory of cultural objects;
- development of systems of cooperation between the different institutions for the protection of cultural heritage - religious institutions, police, customs, Ministry of Culture, etc.
Participants
Representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela were sent, from the following domains:
- Governmental officials from the Ministries of Culture, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Inner Affairs, Members of the Parliament);
- Police officers, especially those working close to archaeological areas;
- Customs officers;
- Legal experts, magistrates, lawyers;
- Academics, teachers;
- National heritage associations;
- Museum staff;
- Actors in the art market.
II – Awareness-raising programme
Parallel to this training, a regional campaign is developed in partnership with local authorities. Based on a documentary film produced in cooperation with the UNESCO Office in Montevideo and an information kit for children dedicated to the fight against illicit trafficking in Latin America, the campaign is particularly aimed at young people, local communities and tourists. It also provides for the inclusion of this issue in the curriculum of the University of Piura.
Organizers
This event was financially supported by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID) in the framework of its cooperation with UNESCO on capacity-building strategies to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property. It is organized jointly by the UNESCO’s Section of Cultural Heritage Treaties and the UNESCO Office in Lima with the support of the Government of Spain.