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Capacity building on illicit trafficking of cultural property in north-western Argentina
Organised by the Government of La Rioja, in collaboration with the Ministry of Security of the Nation, the Ministry of Culture of the Nation, Interpol and the support of UNESCO, the seminar is part of Argentina's commitment as a State Party to the UNESCO’s 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The seminar brought together personnel from the jurisdictional police forces of the Federal Police and Security Forces serving in the Northwest region of Argentina (NOA), with representatives from Tucumán, Catamarca, San Juan, Santiago del Estero, as well as representatives and specialists from other organisations closely involved in the issue of illicit trafficking of cultural property: ministries of culture, public prosecutors and customs officials, museum professionals and cultural property managers, and representatives of the Qhapac Ñan, Andean road system, site inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2014.
During the two days, five thematic panels were discussed with the participation of more than 20 specialists with the aim of strengthening the dialogue and exchange of experiences at international, national and provincial level on protocols for action against crimes against cultural heritage, the protection and management of archaeological and paleontological heritage, or the training of security forces in the fight against this traffic, among others.
Alcira Sandoval Ruiz, Culture Programme Specialist of UNESCO Office in Montevideo, participated together with Commissioner General Marcelo El Haibe, Superintendent of international coordination of the Argentine Federal Police, and Claudia Cabouli, National Director of Cultural Property and Sites of the Ministry of Culture of the Nation, in a discussion on the international approach to illicit trafficking of cultural property, to highlight UNESCO's work in supporting the implementation of the 1970 Convention through international cooperation, training and public awareness.
The various discussions, talks and presentations presented cases and procedures that made it possible to provide theoretical and methodological tools, to evaluate and analyse strategies, and to detect particularities in the different scenarios involved in this illicit trafficking, thereby promoting and strengthening teamwork between the different bodies involved in the protection of cultural heritage and the prevention and fight against illicit trafficking in cultural property.
This coordination becomes essential in this crime, which usually involves different actors, from the looting or theft of the object, through its transportation - which may involve different modalities - to its final sale.
UNESCO stresses that illicit trafficking of cultural property is a scourge against cultural heritage and the history and memory of peoples, and has increased recently, especially due to its activity through online platforms.
The NOA Region is one of the main areas of interest in Argentina in the case of archaeological heritage assets and is located in the border area with Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay.
The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Security, Justice and Human Rights, Miguel Ángel Zárate; the Minister of Tourism and Cultures, Gustavo Luna; the Secretary of Cultures, Patricia Herrera; the Undersecretary of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Province, Ana Mercado Luna; the Career Director of the Ministry of Security of the Nation, Agustín Zaninovich; and the National Director of Cultural Assets and Sites of the Ministry of Culture of the Nation, Claudia Cabouli.
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