The illicit trafficking of cultural property deprives populations and countries of their history, destroying their collective memory. It is said to fuel money laundering, tax evasion, and the financing of terrorist activities. Combating this crime requires strong mobilisation of responsible actors, through regional and international cooperation.

By holding this international Conference, the RITHMS Consortium aims to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of this criminal phenomenon, assessing the state of the art, but also the gaps in the common understanding of the problem, to develop adequate measures to improve EU policy and law enforcement practices on the protection of cultural heritage.

A joint day will bring together scholars and police officers, allowing them to exchange views and strengthen their capacity to preserve human history and tackle trafficking networks.

On the agenda for debate, are the relations of trafficking in cultural goods with other forms of organised crime and the measures adopted to counteract them.

The Conference program will also focus on the identification of best practices for Law Enforcement Agencies. The discussion will result in a better criminological foundation for policies and practices at both EU and national levels.