First training workshop for Africa on the protection of cultural heritage and the fight against illicit traffic of cultural property

Vicenza, Italy, 15-26 June 2009

The two-week workshop was particularly aimed at African professionals involved in the fight against illicit traffic and restitution of cultural objects. UNESCO’s international legal and operational actions were presented to the participants as well as the cultural heritage protection schemes in force in Europe.

A first working session was particularly devoted to legal aspects of the fight against illicit traffic of cultural property and their restitution and a second session to operational modules on the protection or archaeological sites, o movable heritage (libraries and archives), of monuments, of sites and landscapes, to police cultural heritage operations (investigations, criminal records), carrying out investories and to the role of Customs.

The twenty participants (amongst which there were five women) came from: Congo-Brazzaville, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Zimbabwe.

This training was made possible thanks to the Italian cooperation Fund Trust and took place in the capacity-building premises of the Carabinieri (CoESPU), in Vicenza (Italy).

The courses and seminars were given by UNESCO officials and the Carabinieri with the participation of ICCROM, INTERPOL and UNIDROIT.