Qatar National Library, in its role as the IFLA Preservation and Conservation Regional Center (PAC) for Arab countries and the Middle East, is organizing a workshop titled, “Countering Trafficking of Cultural Property Including Documentary Heritage,” from 5 – 8 September 2022. The interdisciplinary workshop, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the U.S., Italian and French Embassies in Qatar, examines best practices in combating the trafficking of antiquities as well as programs and policies that protect cultural heritage and property rights.
The opening session of the workshop was attended by His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, along with His Excellency Jean-Baptiste Faivre, Ambassador of France to Qatar; His Excellency Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Qatar; His Excellency Rajeh Hussein Badi, Ambassador of Yemen to Qatar; Jassim Ahmed Al-Buainain, Director of the Libraries Department at the Ministry of Culture; Rachel Mikeska, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Qatar and Tan Huism, Executive Director of Qatar National Library.
The four-day workshop was presented by international and local experts from Qatar Museums; the Art Crime Team from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Carabinieri Unit of Rome for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Italy; the National Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation, France; and the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, United Arab Emirates, among others. The speakers discussed the laws and mechanisms that prevent the sale of conflict antiquities in the region and worldwide and shared guidance on identifying and intervening to prevent the trafficking of cultural property.
Participants from various industry sectors across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region explored research and conservation techniques, funding mechanisms, advocacy methods, educational outreach efforts, and law enforcement strategies designed to protect cultural property and artefacts. They also discussed how the public and private sectors can work together to counter antiquities trafficking.
Commenting on the event, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library said: “It is a pleasure to open this high-level workshop on combating the trafficking of cultural property and documentary heritage, held within the framework of the Library's role as the regional IFLA PAC center to support the preservation of documentary heritage in the Arab region and the Middle East. This reflects the constant and continuous attention that the Library attaches to this issue that threatens the heritage of the Arab world and indeed, the heritage of all humanity.”
“The Library has been a pioneer in the fight against trafficking of documentary heritage through initiatives such as the launch in 2020 of the Himaya Project, an initiative aimed at engaging international and regional organizations to strengthen and coordinate efforts to combat the illicit trafficking and circulation of documentary heritage in the MENA region. Thank you to all our collaborators for organizing this important workshop which would have not been possible without the support of the Ministry of Culture and the French, Italian and U.S. embassies. I would also to express my gratitude to the General Authority of Customs for their cooperation and I hope that we will continue to work together in the future and exchange knowledge in building regional capacities to combat the smuggling of documentary heritage,” he added.
His Excellency Jean-Baptiste Faivre, Ambassador of France to Qatar added: “We are delighted to participate in this workshop. Combating the trafficking of antiquities is at the very heart of France's long-term commitment to protecting the cultural heritage of humanity. The participation of French experts in the workshop reflects our willingness to support collaboration between international experts to identify and share best practices and to establish guidance in preventing the trafficking of cultural property and documentary heritage. We would like to extend our appreciation to Qatar National Library for having organized such a timely workshop and for its leading role in the region on this critical matter.”
His Excellency Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Qatar said: “Italy is deeply committed to the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage, with particular attention to crisis contexts, including the wider MENA region. Indeed, Italy is at the forefront of many international activities carried out within international fora such as UNESCO, the G20 and the conference of the Ministers of Culture of the Euro-Mediterranean Region, of which Italy has been one of the main supporters.”
“In this context, the special unit for the ‘Cultural Heritage Protection of the Carabinieri’ police force plays a pivotal role. To this end, one of their officers, together with one of the most recognized Italian international law scholars, will be our speakers during the workshop. I would like to thank Qatar National Library for organizing such an interesting event, which I am sure will be widely appreciated,” he added.
Jassim Ahmed Al-Buainain, Director of the Libraries Department at the Ministry of Culture, commented: “It is a pleasure for us to be collaborating on this important workshop that will provide participants with key tools and information in combating the trafficking of cultural property in the region. Initiatives such as these are essential in providing a clear and strong response to stem this growing issue. We will continue to work with the Library and other institutions to raise awareness, enact legislation and address this grave threat in a way that preserves the historical rights of nations and peoples.”
Rachel Mikeska, the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, said, “Historic sites, objects, and documents connect us to our cultural origins. They are vital tools not only for scholarship and education, but also for transmitting each society’s values and identity to future generations. The U.S. government is pleased to participate in this important workshop with experts from the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security.”
The workshop comes as part of the Himaya Project framework, an initiative launched by the Library to counter the trafficking and illegal circulation of documentary heritage in the region and neighboring countries. Himaya engages international agencies and regional organizations to protect heritage artifacts and prevent the trafficking of such items.
Several upcoming projects are set to launch under the Himaya Project in 2023, which include; the close cooperation with the General Authority of Customs in Qatar for capacity building of officers in the region; the rollout of projects to combat the trafficking of antiquities in Afghanistan; a regional awareness program for professionals about the risks of trafficking and a collaboration with the Antiquities Trafficking and Heritage Anthropology Research (ATHAR) Project and Qatar Computing and Research Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, to monitor trafficking activities on social media channels.
The Library will continue to support the efforts of combating the illegal circulation and trafficking of documentary heritage through initiatives and projects that educate and provide guidance to stakeholders and the public on this important subject, as well as encouraging global entities to work together to protect world history before it is lost.
