Multilateral engagement

The illegal transfer of cultural goods is a global, cross-border phenomenon impacting source, transit and destination states. As a result, Switzerland has passed a series of measures at a multilateral level to curb the illegal transfer of cultural goods and its repercussions and preserve the cultural heritage of humankind.

UNESCO

UNESCO-Konvention von 1970

The aim of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (SR 0.444.1) is to secure cultural heritage for humankind and prevent the illegal transfer of cultural property. It contains minimum requirements for legislative and administrative measures, which are incumbent on the contracting states. The Convention is a multilateral treaty, which is neither retroactive nor self-executing. Switzerland ratified the 1970 UNESCO Convention in 2003 and implemented it by enacting the Cultural Property Transfer Act (CPTA, SR 444.1) into national law on 1 June 2005. The Specialized Body for the International Transfer of Cultural Property at the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) is responsible for enforcing the CPTA. Switzerland has been a member of the Subsidiary Committee of the 1970 UNESCO Convention since 20 May 2025. The Subsidiary Committee serves to strengthen the Convention and, in particular, issues proposals and guidelines to improve its application. The advisory committee comprises 18 of the currently 147 contracting states of the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which are each elected for a four-year term.

UNESCO-Konvention von 2001

The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (SR 0.444.2) sets binding rules under international law on the treatment of underwater cultural heritage and contributes to the prevention of the pillaging and commercial exploitation of this cultural heritage. Switzerland ratified the Convention in 2020 and enacted it into national law through the Cultural Property Transfer Act (CPTA, SR 444.1). The Specialized Body for the International Transfer of Cultural Property at the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) is responsible for enforcing the CPTA.

INTERPOL

INTERPOL Expert Group (IEG) on Stolen Cultural Property

The intergovernmental INTERPOL Expert Group on Stolen Property (IEG) is made up of experts from selected member states and serves the General Secretariat of INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) and the member states as a strategic consultant for criminal activities in the field of cultural goods. It offers advice and support on how to be more effective in combating criminality involving cultural goods, identifying stolen or plundered cultural goods, regional and global connections and criminal networks involved in the supply chains. Switzerland has been an active member of this group since 2016

Last modification 20.05.2025