Switzerland’s expertise in cultural property protection receives international recognition
Bern, 20.05.2025 — Switzerland was elected for the first time today in Paris to the Subsidiary Committee for the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property for the 2025–2029 term. This election is an acknowledgement of Switzerland’s longstanding commitment to combating the illegal trade in cultural property and for the preservation of these goods within the framework of international cooperation.
The convention aims to combat the illegal trade in cultural property worldwide, prevent illegal excavation and theft, and enable the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural property. The Subsidiary Committee comprises 18 member states from a total of 147 contracting states to the 1970 Convention. It is tasked with establishing concrete recommendations and guidelines for improving the implementation of the Convention’s goals. Switzerland will contribute to that with its extensive expertise, which covers such areas as the return of stolen cultural property, setting up projects to preserve cultural property at risk and cooperating with other states.
Switzerland is particularly keen to build bridges to cultivate dialogue, especially between countries of origin, which are often greatly affected by the illegal export of their cultural property, and major international trading venues. The aim is to identify common, viable solutions to provide effective protection for cultural heritage.
The protection of movable cultural heritage is a central component of Switzerland’s cultural policy. Switzerland ratified the UNESCO Convention as early as 2003 and integrated it into national law with the 2005 Cultural Property Transfer Act (CPTA).
With this new mandate, Switzerland is continuing its commitment through UNESCO for value-based, efficient and international cooperation based in law. This involves, for example, supporting the regular updating of the database containing the valid legal regulations, in order to facilitate exchange and encourage projects.
Further information can be found on the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) website at www.bak.admin.ch/kgt .