Heritage Protection ICOM hosted the First Expert Meeting of the Observatory in Paris

On 11-12 December 2025, ICOM hosted the First Expert Meeting of the Observatory in the framework of the PRISM EU-funded project, bringing together international experts and ICOM members to discuss the future of ICOM International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods.

One of ICOM’s core missions in safeguarding cultural heritage is to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural goods and its evolving challenge faced by professionals worldwide. In this context, ICOM International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods (“Observatory”) represents a key instrument in supporting prevention, cooperation, and knowledge-sharing on this topic. 

Established with the support of the European Union over a decade ago, the Observatory website has since developed into an important online reference on resources in the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural property. Today, within the framework of the EU-funded PRISM project, the Observatory is undergoing a transformation encompassing its technical infrastructure, content and design. 

To accompany this major refinement, the PRISM project will organise three expert meetings leading up to the launch of the new Observatory website in 2027. 

The first expert meeting, held in December, marked an important milestone in ICOM’s efforts to reshape the Observatory. It provided a dedicated space for dialogue, reflection, and knowledge exchange to inform on the refurbishment process.

The meeting successfully brought together museum professionals from across the ICOM network alongside external experts, fostering interdisciplinary perspectives on how the Observatory can better support those engaged in combating illicit trafficking in cultural goods.

The opening remarks were delivered by the ICOM Director General, who outlined ICOM’s efforts to leverage digitalisation in the fight against illicit trafficking. This was followed by a contribution from the Head of the Heritage Protection Department, who underlined the opportunity to develop the Observatory into a sustainable, practical and operational platform that responds to current needs and anticipates future challenges. 

At the beginning of the meeting, the PRISM project and the history and role of the Observatory were presented. It was emphasised that the refurbished Observatory will not replace existing databases or platforms as its primary purpose will be to act as a central hub, guiding users towards reliable information, trusted tools and established databases that are already in use. Therefore, the Observatory will continue to serve as a reference point for best practices while avoiding duplication of efforts.

Discussions provided valuable inputs that directly contributed to shaping the Observatory into a more practical international tool for professionals working to combat illicit trafficking.

PRISM – First Expert Meeting of the Observatory in Paris by ICOM Communications – Photos © ICOM 

The exchanges focused on the proposed new structure of the website, including: 

• The introduction of new thematic sections responding to emerging needs; 

• Updated best practices aligned with current challenges; 

• Accessible guidance for different stakeholders, including better instructions on what to do in cases of theft or looting, identification of red flags when purchasing cultural objects, and other practical scenarios. 

Moreover, a significant part of the meeting was dedicated to rethinking the professional organisation of the Observatory’s databases, ensuring easier access to relevant resources and complementary information. 

Finally, participants discussed the opportunity to work with mapping tools to enhance the Observatory’s effectiveness as a monitoring tool in the fight against illicit trafficking. 

• Shadia ABDRABO, Senior Curator, National Museum of Sudan 

• Diego Vaz BEVILAQUA, Chair ICOM Brazil 

• Zeynep BOZ, Head of the Anti-Smuggling Department, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism 

• Anastasiia CHEREDNYCHENKO, Chair ICOM Ukraine 

• Alexandre CHEVALIER, Chair ICOM Belgium 

• Tiziano COIRO, Coordinator Works of Art Unit, INTERPOL 

• Goranka HORJAN, previous Chair INTERCOM (previous)

• Jean Paul KOUDOUGOU, Chair ICOM Africa 

• Yuji KURIHARA, Previous Board Member, ICOM Disaster Resilient Museums International Committee (previous)

• Vincent MICHEL, Professor at the University of Poitiers 

• Karalyn MONTEIL, Head of Emergency Operations and Programmes Unit for Culture and Emergencies, UNESCO 

• Maxim NASRA, Head of Preservation and Conservation, Qatar National Library 

• Hanna PENNOCK, Senior advisor, Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands 

The second expert meeting of the Observatory will take place in the first half of 2026. Further updates on the Observatory’s refinement will be shared throughout the coming months. 

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ICOM International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods  

PRISM: an EU-funded project to Fight Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Objects, implemented by ICOM   

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.