International Instruments on Cultural Heritage: Tales of Fragmentation

Abstract

On 30 September 2016, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution A/HRC/33/L.21 on ‘Cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage’. This development highlights the attention that cultural heritage is currently attracting at the international level. The resolution notes the detrimental impact that the loss of cultural heritage has for the enjoyment of cultural rights and calls for action. The resolution does not once refer to sub-national groups. Yet, in calling for international co-operation in restoring ‘the stolen, looted or trafficked cultural property to its countries of origin’ (para. 4), it puts the issue of cultural heritage firmly within the human rights agenda of the United Nations. This was not the case until rather recently.