On 24 June 1995, in Rome, the UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects is adopted — the private-law instrument that complements the 1970 UNESCO Convention on prohibiting illicit import, export and transfer of cultural property.

The Convention regulates restitution of stolen objects and return of illegally exported ones, with limitation periods and protections for good-faith purchasers, based on uniform private international law rules.

Opened for signature in Rome under UNIDROIT auspices, it enters into force on 1 July 1998. It is a key tool against trafficking in art and artefacts.

Unlike UNESCO 1970 (focused on interstate cooperation), UNIDROIT 1995 provides direct claims before national courts.

For cultural property law, 24 June 1995 marks a multilateral private-law standard for restitution of stolen or illegally exported objects.

The official text is published by UNIDROIT.

The UNIDROIT Convention of 24 June 1995 remains the reference for stolen or illegally exported cultural objects.

Image: Rome / heritage; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. Treaty text: UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (1995).