Specialists discuss the roles of various parties in protecting the Kingdom’s heritage from smuggling
As part of the work of the International Conference on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, Heritage Authority The second day of the fourth session under the title "Protect The Kingdom’s Heritage through Combat smuggling and illicit trade"Under the chairmanship of the Director of the Department of Archaeological Sites and Head of the Authority’s Expropriation Committee, Dr. Nayef Al-Qanour.
This came with the participation of an elite group of specialists and representatives of relevant national authorities in the areas of the Public Prosecution and Customs, and the Department of International Agreements and National Museums.
Confronting Smuggling Crimes
The participants reviewed the integrated institutional roles of national authorities in confronting crimes of smuggling and illicit trafficking in cultural property.
Ahmed bin Muhammad Al-Muqahim, Head of the Crimes Prosecution, presented The Economic Department of the Public Prosecution gave a presentation on the role of the Public Prosecution in protecting antiquities and cultural property, in which it addressed the mechanisms of investigation and judicial follow-up, and frameworks for cooperation with security and cultural authorities.
He stressed that protecting national heritage represents a judicial priority that contributes to preserving cultural identity and combating attacks on historical property.
Tracking Suspected Shipments
Director of the Regional Office for Information Exchange in the Middle East at the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, Munira Al-Rasheed, discussed the Authority’s experience in combating the smuggling of cultural property using the tools of the World Customs Organization, highlighting the role of the CENcomm platform and the PITCH Archeology database in tracking suspicious shipments and exchanging information with the relevant international authorities.
She stressed that Integration between technology and field practices enhances the Kingdom’s ability to protect its national heritage from smuggling and illicit circulation.
Building a documented national memory
In turn, the Executive Director of the Preservation and Accessibility Department at the King Abdulaziz Foundation, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamoud Al-Muqrin, the Dara’s efforts to preserve the Kingdom’s documentary and historical heritage, pointing to the advanced digital projects it launched to preserve historical documents and manuscripts through the Saudi Center for Digital Content and the King Salman Center for the Restoration and Preservation of Historical Materials.
He explained that these efforts contribute to building a documented national memory that supports the national heritage protection system.
The leader of the international agreements team at the Heritage Authority, Alaa Al-Atein, presented a paper entitled "Striking a balance between protecting cultural property and thriving the arts and museums sector"In which it reviewed the Kingdom’s experience in implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention, and the Kingdom’s growing role in leading international efforts to preserve cultural heritage and combat illicit trafficking.
At the end of the first day; National and international efforts unite efforts to protect human heritage and preserve cultural property, at a conference
She stressed that the national commitment in this field constitutes a pioneering model in the region.
Protecting Saudi cultural heritage
The session concluded with an intervention from the Director of Collections at the Museum Authority, Dr. Virginia Casola, in which she touched on the Authority’s efforts to combat illicit trade in artistic collectibles.
She explained that the Authority supervises a national network that includes more than 200,000 archaeological and cultural objects, and is working to develop advanced digital systems to track and document collectibles in accordance with global governance standards, in addition to continuous coordination with security and judicial authorities to ensure the protection of cultural heritage in the Kingdom.
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