Promoting the Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property, within governments and civil society

Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus - 24-26 October 2019

The Commissioner for Volunteerism and Non-Governmental Organisations of the Republic of Cyprus, in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, the Council of Europe and the European Union organised a two-day Conference on promoting the Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (the Nicosia Convention) on 24-26 October 2019. The aim was to raise awareness and promote shared efforts at fighting offences relating to cultural property.

The event also featured findings from a new European study on trafficking of cultural property and links to organised crime, new regulation by the European Commission on import of cultural goods as well as important ongoing European research and action projects

Participants of the Conference (by invitation only) included representatives of governments (crime prevention, culture, tourism, education) and civil society/NGOs from Council of Europe member States and Mediterranean neighbourhood countries, business representatives as well as representatives of the European Union, UNESCO, UNIDROIT, INGOs and other relevant stakeholders.

The conference was highly interactive and combined specialists’ points of view with those of more generalist heritage actors. Finally, based on in-depth debates in four thematic working groups, it consolidated insights and formulated action proposals for working vigorously and in co-operation towards a culture of awareness and responsible handling of cultural property, empowering citizens and governments alike. 

Conference "Act for Heritage!"

Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus - 24-26 October 2019