News

UNESCO workshop supports the fight against illicit trafficking in Central Asia and Afghanistan

From 5 to 7 June 2023, UNESCO will host a workshop on the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) for law enforcement professionals, judicial actors, as well as officials from the Ministries of Culture from 7 countries in Central Asia, namely Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

2 June 2023

The 3-day workshop will contribute to reinforcing the network of trained and committed professionals across Central Asia, as well as the implementation of the , ratified by all countries represented in the workshop.

The diverse participants will exchange best practices arising from the national level and explore the practical applications of the international standards and operational tools to the region. Discussions will be accompanied by leading authorities in the field including INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization), WCO (World Customs Organization), UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), ICOM (International Council of Museums), the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and the UNESCO Chair in International Law and Cultural Heritage hosted by the University of Technology in Sydney.

The workshop will also feature interventions concerning cultural heritage in Afghanistan, including a presentation on the specificities of Afghan cultural and archaeological heritage delivered by Afghan experts, an overview of the context and status of illicit trafficking in the region by the French Archaeological Delegation in Afghanistan (DAFA), and the ICOM Red List of Afghanistan Antiquities at Risk.

The State Museum of History of Uzbekistan will host an interactive exchange session on measures to protect cultural heritage from illicit trafficking of cultural property. This workshop aims to promote good practices at the national level and explore ways to strengthen cooperation at the regional level.

UNESCO remains committed to preserving and safeguarding Central Asia and Afghanistan’s rich movable cultural heritage from looting, illegal excavations and illicit trafficking. The Organization will continue to work closely with its national, regional and international, regional, and national partners to build awareness and capacities of relevant stakeholders.

**This activity is jointly supported by the and the . We wish to thank the donors of the Fund of 1970 Convention: China, Cyprus, France, Palestine, the Netherlands and Serbia, as well as the donors of the Heritage Emergency Fund: the Qatar Fund for Development, the Government of Canada, the Kingdom of Norway, the French Republic, the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of Estonia, ANA Holdings INC, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Slovak Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of Serbia.