In acknowledgment of the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, Qatar Museums (QM) hosted an event in the Museum of Islamic Art, titled “Cultural Heritage Protection: A Global Commitment”.
The aim was to draw attention to the crime of illicit trafficking and to explore effective measures for combating it, as well as to highlight the significance of international cooperation in this regard.
Dr Salah Khaled, the director of the Unesco Doha Office for Gulf States and Yemen, Mustafa Unal Erten, chief of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Centre for Combatting Cybercrime, and other dignitaries were present.
“In celebration of the International Day Against Trafficking in Cultural Property, Qatar Museums reaffirms its dedication to preserving the nation's cultural heritage and protecting the heritage sites and properties under its stewardship,” said QM chief executive Mohammed Saad al-Rumaihi.
The event included keynote speeches with industry leaders such as Katie Paul, the co-director and co-founder of Antiquities Trafficking and Heritage Anthropology Research (Athar) Project; Matthew Vincent, the director of the Natural Inventory Project at the American Centre of Research (ACOR); Kaitlin Meredith, the head of the UNODC Border Management Branch; and UNODC digital forensic officer Amr El Rahwan.
The topics focused on raising awareness of crimes as well as proactive measures outlined in the 1970 Unesco Convention, which aims to prohibit and prevent the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property.
US ambassador to Qatar Timmy Davis said the conference underscores the significance of global co-operation in combating the illicit trade of cultural artefacts.
Dr Fatema Hassan al-Sulaiti, the director of International Co-operation and Government Affairs at the QM, stated that preserving and protecting cultural property from illicit trafficking is a matter of great importance that demands coordinated efforts at both international and local levels.
The event included a panel discussion on “Innovative Approaches in the Protection of Cultural Property from Looting and Trafficking”, moderated by Dr Amr al-Azm, associate professor at Qatar University’sGulf Studies Centre.
The panellists included the QM's Abdullatif al-Jasmi (director of Cultural Heritage Protection), Dr Rob Andrew Carter (senior archaeology specialist), Rasul Samadov (head of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha’s Culture Unit), Dr Eleni Polymenopoulou (associate professor at HBKU’s College of Law), and Stephane Ipert (heritage consultant and researcher at the Athar Project).
Mustafa Erten, chief of UNODC Regional Centre for Combating Cybercrime in Doha, said: “Addressing this intersection between cybercrime and cultural property trafficking is essential for safeguarding cultural heritage and preventing further exploitation of digital platforms for criminal purposes.”
“I would like to acknowledge the significant role of Qatar in supporting the global fight against cybercrime by establishing the UNODC Regional Centre for Combatting Cybercrime in Doha, which also contributes to preserving the country's traditions and cultural property,” he added.
The International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property was adopted by Unesco during its 40th General Conference in 2019.
Since then, the QM been a key player in the field of research and development, international collaboration and technological advancements to combat the crimes that impose a risk to the rich cultural heritage.
