On 13 July, Stefano De Caro, Director-General of ICCROM was invited to a public hearing on “Destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage”, organized by the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee.
This public hearing gathered different experts from academic institutes, UNESCO, the International Criminal Court (ICC), Interpol and ICCROM, in order to give an overview of the main issues regarding the destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage. It was also a platform to debate the scope for immediate or longer term actions in conflict zones such as Syria or Iraq.
UNESCO, Interpol, the ICC and other institutions agreed on the importance of prevention and collaboration, as well as the consultation of existing resources such as Interpol’s database of stolen art and antiquities, accessible to the public. Also discussed was the need to better engage international customs personnel and police to ensure their help in identifying illegally exported objects.
During the hearing, Director-General, Stefano De Caro presented ICCROM’s Disaster and Risk Management programme, aimed at preparing proactive cultural first-aiders who will have the ability to assess risks to cultural heritage and reduce the impact in the event of war or natural catastrophes.
International experts, including De Caro, stressed the need for the European Union’s support regarding legislation on the import of cultural objects, as well as the importance of international coordination and cooperation.
The European Commission representatives confirmed that a study would be done on the trafficking of cultural objects within the European Union’s territory.