Online ReporterThe Herald
19 March 1986
COMMONWEALTH law ministers are to consider scheme under which they could take action to deter the illegal export of objects of major national cultural value.
Concern at the rapid increase in the smuggling of sculptures, paintings and other items which are part of a country’s national heritage led to a special study, followed by meeting last month in London where senior law officials drew up a scheme for consideration by ministers.
The scheme envisages claims for the return of illegally removed objects being made up to 30 years after they have left a country and such illegal export being made au extraditable offence.
Senior Commonwealth law officials at their London meeting recommended the preparation by countries of inventories listing items of major national significance and the establishment at the Commonwealth Secretariat of a Commonwealth Cultural Heritage registry.
Valuable objects covered by national inventories as well as those held in private collections could be included in the registry which, it is hoped, would help in their identification and speedy return if they were smuggled out of their country of origin.
The scheme results from a decision of Commonwealth law ministers taken at their last three- yearly meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1983 when they considered problems facing members in this field.
