O’Keefe’s Commentary on the 1970 UNESCO Convention

This new edition of Patrick O’Keefe’s classic book provides up-to-date analysis of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

The new edition also includes a detailed article-by-article commentary on the provisions of the Convention, a comprehensive telling of the historical background that led to the adoption of the Convention and an examination of its impact today.

The illicit traffic in objects of great cultural importance continues to be a massive challenge for the international community, especially when it involves cross-border smuggling and the conflicting application of differing national laws. The UNESCO Convention has become an iconic marker in the fight against the illicit trade, providing important mechanisms for the protection and the return of cultural objects, while influencing standards across the cultural sector. Adopted by some 150 States, it has had an indelible impact on the ethical landscape affecting museums, especially in relation to acquisitions, and the art market.

The book highlights the background which led to the creation of the Convention, and takes a critical look at how it has been interpreted and implemented around the world, including by UNESCO bodies and States Parties to the Convention.

The Convention has unmistakably contributed to the discourse around the restitution of cultural objects to countries of origin. It has also inspired a range of other instruments for the protection and acquisition of cultural objects, such as codes of ethics and museum acquisition policies. These instruments are analysed in the book, while suggestions are made for improving the overall framework for the protection of cultural objects.