Meeting of States Parties & Sessions

The Meeting of States Parties

The Meeting of States Parties is the sovereign body of the Convention. The Meeting of States Parties gives strategic guidelines for the implementation of the Convention and takes all the measures it deems necessary to promote the objectives of the Convention.

Initially, the 1970 Convention did not create a periodic monitoring body. Only one meeting was organized in 2003 based on a specific decision of the Executive Board of UNESCO in 2002. The State Parties requested the Second Meeting of States Parties to be held in June 2012, in which they decided to give this body a periodicity of two years to enable them to follow the developments relating to the implementation of the Convention more closely. The Meeting of States Parties has therefore met every two years since 2012.

When necessary, so-called "extraordinary" meetings may be held in the interim at the request of the States Parties and the Director-General.

The Seventh Meeting of States Parties will take place in 2023.

Third Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention on the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property

According to Article 14.1 of its Rules of Procedure, the Meeting of States Parties is convened every two years. The Third Meeting will be organized from 18 to 20 May 2015 in Paris, at UNESCO Headquarters.

In addition to serving the renewal of half of the Members of the Subsidiary Committee (election of 9 new Members), the State Parties will be – among others – invited to discuss the possible adoption of the Draft Operational Guidelines which were approved by the Subsidiary Committee during its Second session from 30 June to 2 July 2014, the possible creation of a fund for the Convention as well as the recommendations proposed by the Office of Internal Oversight Service of UNESCO (IOS) in the ‘Evaluation Report on the 1970 Convention’ (IOS/EVS/PI/133REV.4) published in April 2014.

Furthermore, taking into consideration the ongoing situation in certain countries, such as in Iraq, Libya and Syria, and the devastating impact of looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property on our shared heritage, the States Parties to the 1970 Convention are strongly encouraged to inform the Meeting of States Parties on the actions undertaken for the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage at risk, particularly within the context of the United Security Council Resolution 2199 (15 February 2015).

Rules of procedure: EN | FR

Oral Report

Oral Report of the Rapporteur: EN/FR

Final documents

Resolutions (C70/15/3.MSP/RESOLUTIONS): EN | FR
Final Report (C70/15/3.MSP/Report): EN | FR

Working documents

Election of the Bureau (C70/15/3.MSP/2): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Provisional Agenda (C70/15/3.MSP/3.REV): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Report of the Subsidiary Committee (C70/15/3.MSP/5A): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Roadmap for the fulfillment of the functions of the Subsidiary Committee (C70/15/3.MSP/5B): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Report of the Secretariat (C70/15/3.MSP/6): EN | FR | SP | AR | RU | CH
Election of the Subsidiary Committee (C70/15/3.MSP/7): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Follow-up to the recommendations of the Report on the Evaluation by the Internal Oversight Service of UNESCO’s Standard-setting Work of the Culture Sector (Part II) and strategic discussions (C70/15/3.MSP/8): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Report on the Secretariat’s Emergency Actions (C70/15/3.MSP/9): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Consideration of the possibility to create a Fund for the 1970 Convention (C70/15/3.MSP/10): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Discussions on possible adoption of the draft Operational Guidelines: (C70/15/3.MSP/11): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH

Information documents

Provisional Timetable (C70/15/3.MSP/INF.3A.REV): EN | FR
Provisional List of Documents (C70/15/3.MSP/INF.3B.REV): EN | FR

Second Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention

UNESCO Headquarters, Room II, Paris, France, 20-21 June 2012

The Meeting was tasked with examining in depth the impact of measures taken by States Parties to the Convention in order to optimize its implementation, appraise its effectiveness with particular regard to new trends in trafficking in cultural property, and formulate strategies geared primarily to improve its application. The States Parties and non-parties were supported in their consideration by the leading international experts in the relevant fields.

During this meeting the States Parties, inter alia, adopted Rules of Procedure whereby they established that the Meeting of States Parties shall be convened every two years. These Rules of Procedure also define the arrangements for the election of a Subsidiary Committee of 18 members (Article 14.4) which shall be convened by the Secretariat every year (Article 14.2). In addition, the Rules of Procedure specify the functions that shall be performed by the subsidiary committee once it has been elected, including, in particular, the preparation of guidelines contributing to the implementation of the Convention (Article 14.6).

Rules of Procedure: EN | FR

Chairperson, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur

Chairperson: H.E. Mr D. Carlos de Icaza (Mexico)
Vice-Chairs: Cambodia, Egypt, Greece, Senegal
Rapporteur: Ms Henrietta Galambos (Hungary)

Oral Report

Oral Report of the Rapporteur: EN | FR

Final documents

Resolutions (C70/12/2.MSP/Resolutions): EN | FR
Final Report (C70/12/2.MSP/Report): EN | FR

Working documents

Election of the Bureau (C70/12/2.MSP/1): EN | FR
Provisional agenda (C70/12/2.MSP/2): EN | FR
Draft rules of procedure (C70/12/2.MSP/3): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Final list of observers (C70/12/2.MSP/4): EN | FR
Report of the Secretariat (C70/12/2.MSP/5): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
Proposals concerning the follow-up on the implementation of the Convention (C70/12/2.MSP/6): EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH

Information documents

Provisional calendar (C70/12/2.MSP/INF.1): EN | FR
Proposals for strategies to improve the implementation of the 1970 Convention (C70/12/2.MSP/INF. 2) : EN | FR | SP | RU | AR | CH
List of available documents (C70/12/2.MSP/INF.4): EN/FR
Documents transmitted by the Permanent Delegation of Peru to UNESCO (doc.1 EN | FR, doc.2 EN | FR, doc.3 EN | FR, doc.4 EN | FR, doc.5 EN | FR)

Expert writings

L.V. Prott, Strengths and Weaknesses of the 1970 Convention: An Evaluation 40 years after its adoption, 2nd edition EN | FR | ES
L.V. Prott, Protection of archaeological objects under the 1970 UNESCO Convention EN | FR | ES
C. Bákula: Combating trafficking in cultural property - The 1970 Convention: Evaluation and prospects EN | FR | ES
M. Cornu: Implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention in Europe EN | FR
K. Farmer: Implementing the 1970 Convention: The Caribbean in Review EN | FR
R. Fraoua: Legislative and institutional measures to combat trafficking in cultural property in Arab States EN | FR
P. Gerstenblith: Expert Report for participants in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention EN | FR | ES
K.-G. Lee: An overview of the implementation of the 1970 Convention in Asia EN | FR
F. Shyllon: Implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention by African Sates: the failure to grasp the nettle EN | FR

Observers

All Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO not party to the 1970 Convention referred to in paragraphs 7 and 8 of Document 187 EX/43;
The organizations of the United Nations system referred to in paragraphs 9-11(a) of Document 187 EX/43;
The intergovernmental organizations referred to in paragraph 11(b) of Document 187 EX/43;
The international non-governmental organizations referred to in paragraph 11(c) of Document 187 EX/43;
The supplementary categories referred to in the annex to document 189 EX/18 Part III (Add. and Corr.), which may be proposed by States Parties until 15 May 2012.

40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention

14 November 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. On the 40th anniversary of the Convention, UNESCO revisits the history of the Convention, and takes stock of its accomplishments, its strength and its weaknesses and examines principal challenges.

In light of the problem of illegal excavations and trade of archaeological objects, the 1970 Convention now stands at a crossroads. Many UNESCO Member States would like to increase its visibility, improve its implementation at national level and carefully re-examine its future.

UNESCO has responded by organizing a media event on 15 and 16 March 2011. It will include a round table open to public and the press on the fight against the illicit traffic of cultural property, a press conference and a forum of reflections, intended for UNESCO Member States and leading experts, on the 1970 Convention and the illicit trafficking of the archaeological properties from illegal excavations. Both events will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Programme
Speakers
Public debate webcast

Press
April
Une sonnette d’alarme face aux pillages, Al-Ahram, 6 avril 2011
Is It Possible to "Collect" Antiquities These Days?, Huffpost Arts, 5 April 2011
Resulta muy difícil frenar el tráfico de bienes artísticos, El Correo Gallego, 3 de abril de 2011
Le trafic des biens culturels : compte-rendu de la Convention de l’UNESCO, Le Club du Millénaire, 2 avril 2011
Au musée des œuvres invisibles, Libération, 2 avril 2011
March
L'arte minacciata: guerra e malavita i principali nemici della bellezza, Il Messaggero,31 Marzo 2011
L'Unesco tire la sonnette d'alarme, La Presse de Tunisie, 28 mars 2011
Egypt's Museums: UNESCO to the rescue, Al-Masry Al-Youm, 22 March 2011
La CITES partage son expérience avec l’Unesco, CITES, 21 mars 2011
Unesco : quarante ans de lutte contre le trafic des biens culturels, Jeune Afrique, 21 mars 2011
Turkey wants its İznik pottery back from France, Daily News and Economic Review,18 March 2011
Pillage du musée du Caire : la liste des objets volés, Science et Avenir.fr,18 mars 2011
France: UNESCO mobilizes experts, civil society partners to safeguard heritage in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Afrique en ligne,17 March 2011
L’Unesco sonne l’urgence pour contrer les pillages des sites antiques en Egypte, Le Monde, 17 mars 2011
40 ans de la Convention sur le trafic illicite de biens culturels, Podcastjournal, 16 mars 2011
Inquiétude grandissante de l'Unesco pour les sites archéologiques égyptiens, Agence France Presse, 15 mars 2011
Le trafic des biens culturels dans le monde s’intensifie, Les Echos, 15 mars 2011
Combattre le trafic illicite des objets culturels, Le Figaro, 15 mars 2011
L’Unesco peine à réguler sa lutte contre les trafics, Libération, 15 mars 2011
España participa en el 40 aniversario de la convención de la Unesco contra el tráfico ilícito de bienes culturales, Región Digital, 15 de marzo de 2011
Conmemoran el 40 aniversario de la Convención contra el tráfico ilícito, Terra, 15 de marzo de 2011
UNESCO marks 40 years since ban on illegal art trade, The Voice of Russia, 15 March 2011
España participa en el 40 aniversario de la convención de la Unesco contra el tráfico ilícito de bienes culturales, La Cerca, 14 de marzo de 2011
Traffic illicite de biens culturels, South’s Ways Invest, 12 mars 2011
Afrique : l’UNESCO célèbre les 40 ans de la Convention sur le trafic illicite de biens culturels, AllAfrica,11 mars 2011
Célébration de quarante ans de lutte contre le trafic illicite de biens culturels, Connaissance des Arts, 11 mars 2011
40 ans de lutte contre le trafic illicite de biens culturels, Afiavi, 10 mars 2011
Trafic de biens culturels : anniversaire et colloque, Policultures, 9 mars 2011
Le retour des biens culturels en débat, Le Journal des Arts, 4 mars 2011
February
Séminaire à l’Unesco sur la Convention de 1970 : bilan et perspectives, Vieilles Maisons Françaises, 25 février 2011
Pictures
Report

More:

Information kit
Speech of the Director-General, Mrs Irina Bokova, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention, 15 March 2011 (in French)
"Strengths and Weaknesses of the 1970 Convention: An Evaluation 40 years after its adoption", Background paper, 2nd edition, by Lyndel V. Prott
Articles by experts

Articles by Experts - 2015
Neuer, J-J. & Hance, C.: A Common Standard of Due Diligence in Art Practice: towards a harmonization of restitution claims

EN
Cornu M.: Implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention in Europe

EN | FR
Farmer K.: Implementing the 1970 Convention: The Caribbean in Review

EN | FR
Fraoua R.: Legislative and institutional measures to combat trafficking in cultural property in Arab States

EN | FR
Gerstenblith P.: Expert Report for participants in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention

EN | FR | ES
Lee K.-G.: An overview of the implementation of the 1970 Convention in Asia

EN | FR
Prott L.V.: Strengths and Weaknesses of the 1970 Convention: An Evaluation 40 years after its adoption, 2nd edition

EN | FR | ES
Prott L.V.: Protection of archaeological objects under the 1970 UNESCO Convention

EN | FR | ES
Shyllon F.: Implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention by African Sates: the failure to grasp the nettle

EN | FR
Articles by Experts - 2012

40 years combat against the illicit trafficking of cultural property

This video clip was produced on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention, to highlight the importance of international cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property, as well as the valuable work of specialized police forces on the fight against illicit trafficking.

40 years combat against the illicit trafficking of cultural property

This video clip was produced on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention, to highlight the importance of international cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property, as well as the valuable work of specialized police forces on the fight against illicit trafficking.

Meeting of States Parties & Sessions

The Meeting of States Parties

Sixth Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention (6.MSP)

Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention (5.MSP)

Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention (4.MSP)

Third Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention on the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property

Extraordinary Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention

Second Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention

40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention

Programme

Speakers

Public debate webcastPress

Pictures

Report

Articles by experts

Articles by Experts - 2015

Articles by Experts - 2012

First Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention

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Public debate webcast

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