26/02/2025

A three-member delegation from the Agency for Education and Professional Training— consisting of Head of the Support Department Dunja Galić, Head of the Specialist Training Section Ivan Pinjuh, and Senior Advisor Miljana Lazarević Jakirović — visited Madrid from February 24 to 26. There, under the auspices of UNESCO, they participated in a specialist training course aimed at strengthening institutional capacities and building a strong network of key actors in the fight against the illegal trade of cultural heritage.

The training is part of UNESCO’s project titled “Fighting against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Goods in the Western Balkans”, as cultural heritage in the region has been seriously threatened by theft, illegal excavations, unlawful appropriation, and export. Moreover, after the last war, the region has become a transit area for the illegal trade of cultural goods. Due to the complexity of this criminal activity, only structured and continuous cooperation between various actors at different levels can effectively curb the illegal trade of cultural heritage. UNESCO emphasizes the need to build bridges and develop capacities within relevant sectors and institutions, as well as between the public and private sectors in order to prevent and combat attacks on the richness and diversity of humanity’s cultural heritage.

In this spirit, the training programme in Madrid covered topics such as international cooperation and the role of international organizations in combating illegal trade (with special focus on UNESCO), inter-agency cooperation (Spain’s experiences and case studies), gap analysis — how to improve existing models of inter-institutional cooperation, online sales and dangerous use of virtual platforms, open-source intelligence, special investigative measures, analysis of real cases, repatriation and restitution, and training for cultural property management (handling and packaging), among others.

Through the analysis of real-life cases, expert knowledge and experience were shared with the training participants by representatives of international organizations including UNESCO, as well as national specialized police forces and other agencies, including the Guardia Civil, the Spanish Prosecutor’s Office, the Spanish Ministry of Culture, the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (Italy), and the Central Office for Cultural Goods (KOM, Turkey).

The project “Fighting against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Goods in the Western Balkans” is funded by the European Commission (DG NEAR/DG EAC) and implemented by UNESCO through its Regional Office for Science and Culture in Europe (Venice) and the Sarajevo office. The training sessions, aimed primarily at strengthening coordination among key actors at the regional and international levels, will continue throughout the year, with the next one scheduled for March in Ankara (Turkey).