UNIDROIT was invited to participate in four 5-day training workshops for different authorities and local stakeholders in the framework of the implementation of the EU-UNESCO project “Fighting against the illicit trafficking of cultural property in the Western Balkans” to present and discuss its instruments in this field.
The overall objective of the action is to foster regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations through enhancing the protection of cultural heritage in the Western Balkans. In particular, the project aims to promote dialogue, mutual respect, appreciation, and recognition among communities by means of strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property through capacity-building and awareness-raising activities.
UNIDROIT was represented by Ms Marina Schneider, Principal Legal Officer and Treaties Depositary, who presented and discussed with participants the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects and the UNESCO-UNIDROIT Model Provisions on State Ownership of Undiscovered Cultural Objects.
The workshops took place in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) from 10 to 14 June 2024, Žabljak (Montenegro) from 17 to 21 June 2024, Skopje (North Macedonia) from 8 to 12 July 2024, all three States Parties to the 1995 Convention and Tirana (Albania) from 21 to 25 October, not yet a Party. Another workshop will be organized early 2025 in Belgrade (Serbia).
This was an opportunity to discuss the implementation of the Convention with the various stakeholders as well as the tools developed by international partners to strengthen it, such as INTERPOL and ICOM.