FIGHTING AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF CULTURAL PROPERTY Cross-border training workshop for relevant authorities of Montenegro and Serbia Rome (Italy), 20-24 November 2017

1. UNESCO DATABASE OF LEGISLATIONS
http://www.unesco.org/culture/natlaws
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2. WHAT IS IT ?
• Launched in February 2005 by the UNESCO Intergovernmental
Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its
Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation
• Financed by USA Funds-in-Trust
• Free, easy and quick access to cultural heritage laws currently in
force
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3. ORGANIZATION OF THE DATABASE
NATLAWS DATABASE
Cultural Heritage laws
Tangible Cultural Heritage laws
Movable Cultural Heritage laws
(Paintings, sculptures, coins, musical instruments,
archaeological and ethnographic objects)
Immovable Cultural Heritage laws
(Monuments, archaeological sites)
Underwater Cultural Heritage laws
(Shipwrecks, ruins, submerged cities)
Intangible Cultural Heritage laws
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4. PROTECTS CULTURAL HERITAGE BY
FIGHTING AGAINST
• Looting
• Theft
• Illegal export
and import
• Illicit trafficking
of cultural property
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5. WHAT INFORMATION IS STORED IN THE
DATABASE ?
• National laws
• Import/export certificates
• Contact information for national authorities
• Official national cultural heritage web sites
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6. HOW TO SEARCH IN THE DATABSE ?
1- Choose the type of search:
Free search
Closed Search
Combined Search
2- Enter or select country, region
and period
3- Click on search
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7. EXAMPLE OF A
SEARCH RESULT
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8. IMPORT/EXPORT CERTIFICATES
• Restricted access to import/export certificates
• Certificates are available only upon request
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9. HOW TO UPDATE AND ADD LAWS TO
THE DATABASE?
• All UNESCO Member States are invited to submit their national
cultural heritage legislation to UNESCO (by email or on CD)
• Submit information by e-mail to the Cultural Heritage
Protection Treaties Section
 e-mail: natlawsdatabase@unesco.org
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10. WHAT TO SEND?
• Legislation currently in force
• Historical background
• Import/export certificate(s)
• Official English translation(s)
• Contact details of national authorities
• Official national web site address
• Official written authorization for publishing the
data
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11. HOW IS ONLINE DATA PROTECTED?
• All uploaded laws are
secured through a
locking system and with a
digital watermark;
• Users cannot modify the
content of online
documents;
• Documents can only be
downloaded and printed.
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12. INFORMATION BROCHURE
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14. WebsiteContact
Edouard Planche
Cultural Heritage Protection
Treaties Section
Tel: 00.33.1.45.68.44.04
Fax: 00.33.1.45.68.55.96
@: e.planche@unesco.org
www.unesco.org/culture/natlaws
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