Pan-African Workshop: The protection of cultural goods against plunder, theft and illicit trafficking

The African and EU Heads of States decided, in 2007, to change the nature of the inter-continental partnership between Africa and the EU. The principles guiding the relationship are dialogue, common objectives, mutual responsibilities and shared benefits.

Subsequently, the 3rd Africa-EU Summit decided, in December 2010, to ‘confirm the joint determination to strengthen cooperation in the area of cultural goods and other areas of cultural cooperation’. To operationalise the political commitment, priority was given to:

1. To raise awareness among decision makers on the importance of the protection of cultural goods (PoCG) against plunder, theft and illicit trafficking for stability, security and sustainable development (increased understanding of situations, trends and dynamics, improved inventories and digitalization of such inventories, improved customs, police and heritage management resources, monitoring capacity and improved design of policies and programs).

2. To provide recommendations and priority actions to enhance the PoCG in Africa, taking into due consideration current gaps at pan African and regional levels.

3. To identify interested parties and outline operational modalities in the areas of digital cultural archiving for sustainable development and cultural data and cultural goods monitoring in Africa.

To realise these objectives, the 3-day Workshop will bring together a wide range of thematic experts in the field of the protection of cultural goods

(incl. heritage management and law enforcement) as well as representatives from key institutions active in this area. Stakeholders from the five African regions, the African Union Commission and the EU Member States, the UNESCO, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine (UEMOA), the European Commission, INTERPOL, ICOM International, WCO and others as appropriate will participate.

Article on the Casablanca Workshop via the following links : http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/newsroom/all-news/morocco-africa-eu-workshop-fight-against-illegal-trafficking-cultural-goodsfor the English version and http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/fr/newsroom/all-news/maroc-atelier-dechanges-sur-la-protection-des-biens-culturels-contre-le-pillage-le for the French version.

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