A CONTEMPORARY OBSERVATION ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY
A CONTEMPORARY OBSERVATION ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY

Summary/Abstract: The paper explores major international agreements that aim at providing international protection of cultural property. Cultural property is subject to two major international legal regimes, one of which protects it during wartime (The Hague Convention 1954), and the other of which deals with looted cultural property during peacetime (there are three Conventions - UNESCO 1970, UNESCO 1972, and UNIDROIT 1995). Neither legal regime has been remarkably successful. Cultural property continues to suffer from damages and/or looting. During war times, cultural property is often targeted and looted and/or destroyed. During peacetime, international blackmarket of looted cultural property flourishes because countries have been unwilling to invest resources in controlling it. Cultural property should receive enhanced international protection. Countries should be forced to devote greater resources to complying with treaties; treaty obligations should be made stricter and more detailed; sanctions should be enhanced; andcountries that have not ratified the existing treaties should be pressured to do so.

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