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This event was held on June 17 2025

This webinar provided an opportunity to critically consider the public and private international law aspects of multilateral efforts in North America to address the illicit trade in cultural goods on the 55th anniversary of the adoption of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Cultural Property, and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects.

Co-hosted by the American Society of International Law, this regional North American virtual book launch brought together leading scholars in the field and key contributors from the European region to the recently published Oxford Commentary on the 1970 UNESCO and 1995 UNIDROIT Conventions on Stolen or Illegally Transferred Cultural Property (Oxford University Press, 2024). This is the third volume in the Oxford Commentaries on International Cultural Heritage Law edited by Professor A F Vrdoljak and the late Professor Francesco Francioni.

The panel discussants were

  • Professor Patty Gerstenblith, Faculty Director, Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law, DePaul University College of Law
  • Professor James A.R. Nafziger, Thomas B. Stoel Professor of Law, College of Law, Willamette University, Vice-Chair of the International Law Association (ILA)
  • Ms Giuditta Giardini, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, International Council of Museums (ICOM)

Moderated by Dr Andrzej Jakubowski, editor of the Oxford Commentary, vice-chair, CHAIG, Polish Academy of Sciences and UNESCO Chair collaborator.

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

The UNESCO Chair and UTS supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its implementation in full.