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Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk

The Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk is designed to help customs officials, police officers, and heritage professionals identify the categories of objects most targeted by illicit traffic. The categories depicted are protected by legislation which prohibits their trade and exportation.

However contemporary artistic creation and artisanal crafts are not protected by laws which relate to cultural heritage; these objects and works of contemporary creation are included in the Emergency Red List because the earthquake has rendered them particularly vulnerable to looting and theft. Potential buyers of an object resembling any of those presented in the Emergency Red List, as well as customs and law enforcement agents, are advised to vigilantly check its provenance and relevant legal documentation.

The Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk is by no means exhaustive, and any object that may have originated from Haiti should be subject to careful scrutiny. The Emergency Red List does not aim, however, to discourage the legal trade in contemporary Haitian cultural goods, which is vital for the livelihood of artists and for the economic reconstruction of the country.

Download the Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk in English

Download the Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk in Spanish

Dowload the Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk in French

Download the Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk in Creole

Context

The exceptionally rich cultural heritage of Haiti includes vestiges of the pre-Columbian, colonial, and national eras, contemporary artistic creation, cult objects and crafts. It is vital to the Haitian national identity.
Despite the protection afforded by both national and internationallegislation, the cultural heritage of Haiti remains severely affected by illicit traffic, which is fuelled by international demand and by the extreme poverty of the country. The earthquake of 12 January, 2010 has rendered the situation particularly dire, leaving Haitian heritage sites unprotected and vulnerable to looting, theft, and destruction.
The Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk is ICOM’s first response to the increased risk in illicit trafficking, meeting the request of Interpol, the World Customs Organization (WCO), and UNESCO. Given the importance of cultural heritage as a unifying force among the Haitian people today, the protection of these objects and the prevention of their dispersal are essential to the ongoing reconstruction effort.

The Emergency Red List of Haitian Cultural Objects at Risk is the first part of ICOM’s programme for the protection of the cultural heritage of the Island of Hispaniola. It will be followed by the Red List of Endangered Cultural Objects of the Island of Hispaniola, which will present categories of cultural objects particularly at risk in both the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.