Online course on Preventing Illicit
Trafficking of Cultural Property

About the online course initiative

Welcome to the online lectures which aim at providing basic information for an effective fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property.

The course is designed for a wide variety of stakeholders, from cultural heritage professionals to the judiciary and law-enforcement.

Why these online lecturers matter

Cultural heritage is more than art or archaeology – it is the story of who we are. When cultural property is stolen, looted, or trafficked, entire communities are robbed of their identity, history, and future. These crimes may not always make headlines, but they are often connected to larger criminal networks that also engage in terrorism, drug trafficking, and human exploitation.

The illicit trafficking of cultural property often begins with theft or illegal excavations. These crimes not only damage the objects themselves but also erase the scientific, historical, and emotional knowledge they carry.

The protection of cultural property is not only about preserving beautiful objects – it is about protecting the knowledge, values, and creativity of past civilizations that continue to shape our present. These objects are evidence of human achievement and resilience. They inspire learning, support scientific discovery, and connect us across cultures and generations. Safeguarding them is an act of solidarity, justice, and peace.

Illicit trafficking of cultural property is rarely a simple act of theft. It is often part of a wider web of organized crime. Smuggling routes, fake documents, and corrupt dealers allow stolen objects to be laundered into the legal market. In some cases, the profits are used to fund violent extremism or other serious crimes. Understanding these networks is crucial to disrupting them.

Whether you are a police officer working to stop organized crime, a state attorney, a prosecutor, a judge, or a museum or heritage professional safeguarding the past, the protection of cultural property concerns you.

From ancient statues unearthed in illicit excavations to artifacts smuggled across borders, each object lost is a piece of truth erased – along with the scientific, historical, and emotional connections it carries.

These lectures, provide you basic information on:

The value of cultural heritage

General definition of illicit trafficking

Preventative measures

HOW TO REGISTER?

Registration on the platform is simple. Follow these steps:

Create an account on our learning platform.
Wait for confirmation in your email indicating that your account has been created. If you do not receive this, please check your spam folder.
Log in to the platform, then click the button “Register for a course”, and select the course.
Once you enroll in the course, take each module in a chronological order for a better understanding of the course material.

OBJECTIVES

Recognize the importance of cultural heritage and understand its role in shaping identity, fostering social cohesion, and promoting intercultural dialogue.
Identify the ways in which illicit trafficking of cultural property intersects with organized crime, including its financial, structural, and transnational dimensions.
Evaluate strategies and mechanisms for reducing risk to cultural property, particularly in museum management and mechanisims.
Analyze the dynamics of online sales platforms and their role in facilitating or concealing the trafficking of illicit cultural goods.
Understand the significance of provenance research as a tool for detecting laundering practices and supporting due diligence efforts in the trade and acquisition of cultural objects.
Apply interdisciplinary approaches and best practices to combat illicit trafficking, incorporating legal, ethical, and practical tools from fieldwork to policy.

WORKLOAD

This practical online course could be finalized in 3 days.