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UNESCO-European Union: Joining forces to combat trafficking
One of the top players in the global market for art and antiquities, the European Union (EU) has set strict standards for its Member States to regulate the illicit trafficking of cultural property. Based on the UNESCO 1970 Convention, relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, and its own legal framework concerning the export, import and return of cultural objects, the EU has joined hands with UNESCO – investing over €1.2 million to support the implementation of these regulatory instruments through concrete activities.
Since 2017, over 600 professionals from the public and private sectors have participated in workshops and conferences to raise awareness of, and discuss means to fight illicit trafficking. The importance of reinforcing due diligence conduct in the European art trade is a key element of this fight. UNESCO’s collaboration with the trading bloc was reinforced in March 2018, at a capacity-building conference on Engaging the European Art Market in the Fight Against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property, held at the Headquarters in Paris.
The joint project has also produced practical tools such as Fighting the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property, a toolkit to help European judiciary; a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) and e-learning modules. Sensitizing the general public in EU market countries – including through videos – is a crucial element of the fight, as are synergies among authorities of destination, transit and source countries.
The ongoing EU-UNESCO “Inter-regional and cross-cutting action” initiative targets a range of key professionals – cultural and museum authorities, civil servants, judiciary and law enforcement officials – by widening the scope beyond EU Member States, to include the Western Balkans and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) South partner countries.
The art market: A victim of its own success, The UNESCO Courier,October-December 2020
Photo capture from video : © UNESCO Beirut Office / Keeward / Squarefish
Since 2017, over 600 professionals from the public and private sectors have participated in workshops and conferences to raise awareness of, and discuss means to fight illicit trafficking. The importance of reinforcing due diligence conduct in the European art trade is a key element of this fight. UNESCO’s collaboration with the trading bloc was reinforced in March 2018, at a capacity-building conference on Engaging the European Art Market in the Fight Against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property, held at the Headquarters in Paris.
The joint project has also produced practical tools such as Fighting the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property, a toolkit to help European judiciary; a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) and e-learning modules. Sensitizing the general public in EU market countries – including through videos – is a crucial element of the fight, as are synergies among authorities of destination, transit and source countries.
The ongoing EU-UNESCO “Inter-regional and cross-cutting action” initiative targets a range of key professionals – cultural and museum authorities, civil servants, judiciary and law enforcement officials – by widening the scope beyond EU Member States, to include the Western Balkans and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) South partner countries.
The art market: A victim of its own success, The UNESCO Courier,October-December 2020
Photo capture from video : © UNESCO Beirut Office / Keeward / Squarefish
12 October 2020
Last update:20 April 2023
