UNESCO to host workshop on strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property

The UNESCO Windhoek National Office and the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) in collaboration with Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and the Namibia National Commission for UNESCO will host a workshop to foster regional cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property from 27-28 October 2021.

The two-day meeting will be in a hybrid format, with some participants joining virtually via Zoom while the physical event will take place in Swakopmund, Namibia.

The meeting contributes to UNESCO’s continued efforts to raise awareness and understanding on the value of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. It will also draw attention to the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1995 International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects.

In addition, the meeting also serves as a platform to encourage further ratification of the Conventions by African member states that are currently not signatories, and to strengthen and improve collaboration between institutions dealing with the illicit trafficking of cultural property at national, regional and international levels. The meeting will bring together local, regional and international experts to promote peer to peer learning from countries that have ratified the Conventions.

Honourable Ester Anna-Lisa Nghipondoka, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture of Namibia, will officially open the meeting on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Namibia.