Open-ended intergovernmental expert group on protection against trafficking in cultural property

The Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2008/23, entitled "Protection against trafficking in cultural property", reiterated its request made in its resolution 2004/34 that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in close cooperation with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, convene an open-ended intergovernmental expert group meeting to submit relevant recommendations on protection against trafficking in cultural property to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Those recommendations were to include ways of making more effective the model treaty for the prevention of crimes that infringe on the cultural heritage of peoples in the form of movable property.

The open-ended intergovernmental expert group on protection against trafficking in cultural property met in Vienna from 24 to 26 November 2009 and its recommendations were submitted to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its 19th session in 2010 (E/CN.15/2010/5).

Further, in its resolutions 2010/19, entitled "Crime Prevention and criminal justice responses to protect cultural property, especially with regard to its trafficking", the Economic and Social Council requested UNODC to convene at least one additional meeting of the open-ended intergovernmental expert group on protection against trafficking in cultural property to consider and submit to the Commission at its 22 nd session practical proposals for implementing, where appropriate, the recommendations made by the expert group at its meeting of 24-26 November 2009, with due attention to aspects of criminalization and international cooperation, including mutual legal assistance.

In its resolution 66/180, entitled "Strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice responses to protect cultural property, especially with regard to its trafficking", the General Assembly further welcomed this decision by the Economic and Social Council.

The Council also adopted in resolutions 2010/19 and 2011/42, the recommendation made by the expert group on trafficking in cultural property at its first meeting calling upon UNODC, as a complement to existing work and in close cooperation with UNESCO, Unidroit and other competent organizations, and within its mandate, to explore the development of specific guidelines for crime prevention with respect to trafficking in cultural property including, inter alia, the criteria of due diligence when acquiring a cultural object.

The Economic and Social Council also invited Member States to continue to submit, in writing, comments on the model treaty for the prevention of crimes that infringe on the cultural heritage of peoples in the form of movable property, including views on its potential utility and on whether any improvements to it should be considered, at the earliest possible date, in order to assist the Secretariat in preparing an analysis and a report to be presented to the open-ended intergovernmental expert group on protection against trafficking in cultural property at its next meeting, as well as to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twenty-second session.

The second intergovernmental expert group meeting will be held from 27 to 29 June 2012 in Vienna as endorsed by the Extended Bureau of the 21 st Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its meeting of 19 March 2012.

  • First meeting of the open-ended intergovernmental expert group meeting on protection against trafficking in cultural property, Vienna, Austria, 24 to 26 November 2009
  • Second meeting of the open-ended intergovernmental expert group meeting on protection against trafficking in cultural property, Vienna, Austria, 27 to 29 June 2012