This site uses technical (necessary) and analytics cookies.
By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies.

The Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando signs the Convention on Offences relating to cultural property

 

50093 dsc 1170

 

On 24 October 2017 in Strasbourg the Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando signed the new Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property, also known as the “Blood Antiquities” Convention, bringing to 9 the number of signatory countries. The Convention is the only international treaty specifically dealing with the criminalization of the illicit trafficking of cultural property and introducing some new criminal offences, such as theft of cultural or archeological property, unlawful excavation and destruction or intentional damage of cultural property.

The Minister Orlando stated that on his return to Italy he would do his best to ensure the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property by the end of the legislature. He then specified that the procedure for the approval of a draft law in the framework of crimes against the cultural heritage is already ongoing in Italy. Finally, the Minister recalled the proposal to establish an “ad hoc observatory” on the cultural property as a mechanism of monitoring of the effective implementation of the Convention, confirming the availability of Italy to host it.

The signature of the “Blood Antiquities” Convention, for which Italy played an active role at the negotiation table, was also the occasion for the meeting between the Minister of Justice Orlando and Deputy Secretary General, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni. The Representative of the Council of Europe underlined the importance of the Convention not only to protect historic sites and cultural property, but also to help dry up a source of financing for organized crime and terrorism.