Stolen Works of Art

Recommendations

Recognizing the need of member countries to raise public awareness of the illicit trade in Iraqi cultural property,

Acknowledging the value of the ICOM Emergency Red List for Iraqi Antiquities at Risk in raising awareness of law enforcement, the trade and the public,

Conscious of the fact that the list was established four years ago and that the categories of objects at risk may have changed,

Noting the continuously high number of sales of Iraqi cultural property over the Internet,

Aware of the need of law enforcement officials for appropriate training in dealing with Internet checks,

RECOMMEND:

that the Interpol General Secretariat:

• liaises with ICOM and suggest updating the existing Red List with a view to
• providing assurance to law enforcement, the public and the trade that the list is current and relevant
• facilitating a fresh publicity campaign to increase awareness,
• considers including specific cultural property investigative techniques in the existing Interpol IT Training Manual,
• encourages neighbouring countries to participate in the next ITTF meeting
• dedicates a session of the forthcoming international symposium to the illicit traffic in Iraqi cultural property
• examines developing a closer working relationship between the operational ITTF and the strategic Interpol Experts group on cultural property (IEG);

that Interpol member countries

• disseminate as widely as possible the common letter by INTERPOL, UNESCO and ICOM on the basic actions concerning cultural objects being offered for sale over the Internet.