Trafficking in cultural property (TCP*), as well as the destruction of cultural heritage, has been recognized as a "threat to international peace and security" by the UN Security Council, as well as an "obstacle to the enjoyment of cultural heritage as a human right guaranteed by international law", and. Consequently, supporting effective action against trafficking in cultural property, defined as a "serious crime" by the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, is crucial to contributing to Ukraine's achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs 16, 11 and 4).
During a roundtable discussion organized in Lviv (21-22 September) by the UNODC Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption and the UNODC Programme Office for Ukraine, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and Ukrainian Financial Investigation Unit (FIU), national stakeholders discussed the best practices, achievements, and challenges related to the illicit trafficking of cultural property in Ukraine. Examining the need to implement a monitoring mechanism, including an analytical database of criminal activities involving cultural property in Ukraine, the interventions highlighted the challenges faced by government agencies and law enforcement officials in formulating joint responses and comprehensive measures to respond effectively to illicit trafficking in cultural property.
In order to support the government's commitment in preventing and combating trafficking of cultural property, it is crucial to promote supply-chain integrity and stop the illicit trade in and sale of cultural property, through criminal-justice responses including anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering actions that could disrupt organized criminal networks. To that end, stakeholders from National Police of Ukraine, National Customs Services, State Border Guards Services (SBGS), State Security Service (SSU), Ministry of Culture and UNODC, UNESCO discussed how national and international actors can better cooperate to advance the implementation of existing international and national legal and regulatory frameworks on facilitating law enforcement responses, cross-border cooperation and exchange of information.
Working with national and international partners to strengthen national capacities for investigating TCP activities and markets, and disrupting the illicit trade chain, the UNODC Office for Ukraine with the Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption proposes to develop and implement various tools to help the government combat these crimes. While the protection of cultural heritage is the responsibility of the State, all stakeholders at the Roundtable discussed various recommendations to support national efforts in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property. These included strengthening inter-agency cooperation, improving the understanding of the nature and patterns of the crime, improving understanding of the legal and regulatory framework particularly as it relates to admissibility of evidence in court, developing expertise for law enforcement investigations through training and specialist capacity and strengthen detection at borders as well as online detection.
