International Council on Archives: Invest in cooperation in the fight against theft, trafficking and tampering of archives to prevent and protect our heritage

Abstract

Rare books, manuscripts, archival documents are of great cultural value and part of the world's heritage. They are worthy not only to preserve but also to prevent them from being stolen or becoming object of illegal trade.

Recently the International Council on Archives (ICA) has created an expert group on the fight against loss, theft and trafficking of archival items. The group is developing an action plan, including the following main streams:

1. Create cooperation with sister organisations like IFLA, CERL, ICOM ; with UNESCO and with law enforcement agencies like WCO and INTERPOL and with the books - and antiquities trade 2. To develop general instruments and methods for defining, reporting on stolen and trafficked material and create "Red Lists", 3. To develop prevention measures to be used within the organisations, including training and education 4. Sensibilisation of the public, the institutions, the professionals, law enforcement agencies.

As libraries and archival institutes are confronted with similar questions constructing a network would be a good option.