Strengthening the International Regime for the Prevention of the Illicit Trade in Cultural Goods
Strengthening the International Regime for the Prevention of the Illicit Trade in Cultural Goods

Summary/Abstract: This Article examines the applicable international and regional legal instruments aimed to the strengthening of the current regime to prevent the illicit recovery, movement and trade in cultural property. It illustrates the differences between the various regimes, as well as the history and development of the international legal framework directed towards combating illicit trade in moveable cultural heritage. A particular emphasis is placed on the complementarity among, and functioning of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, the Council Directive 93/7/EEC of 15 March 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State and the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. This review points up the need, notwithstanding the existence of these regimes, for the further legal development of the existing international regime.

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