Short Course: International Cultural Heritage Law

Course Details

This course will offer an introduction to cultural heritage as an international legal concept. It will include discussions of the key threats to cultural heritage at present, including trafficking, armed conflicts, and development. In doing so, it will also cover international instruments that have been adopted over the past decades to protect cultural heritage. Finally, the course will conclude with a special session focused on restitution matters, considering past return processes and what can be learnt from them.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to understand:

• What is 'cultural heritage' under international law?
• How does international law protect cultural heritage?
• What is the role of States and non-state actors in protecting cultural heritage?
• How has the conceptualization of cultural heritage changed overtime?

Course topics:

• Cultural Heritage as a Global Concept
  Dr Elke Selter, ALIPH 
  
• Cultural Heritage within the International Human Rights Framework
  Kristin Hausler, BIICL 
  
• The Protection of Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflict
  Prof Anne-Marie Carstens, University of Baltimore 
  
• Prosecuting and Redressing Crimes Against Cultural Heritage
  Dr Marina Lostal, University of Essex 
  
• Combatting the Trafficking of Cultural Objects
  Dr Andrzej Jakubowski, Polish Academy of Sciences
  
• An Economic Perspective on Cultural Heritage: Cultural Objects as Goods
  Prof Francesca Fiorentini, University of Trieste 
  
• World Cultural Heritage
  Dr Sophie Vigneron, University of Kent 
  
• Intangible Cultural Heritage
  Prof Lucas Lixinski, UNSW 
  
• The Settlement of Inter-State Disputes Concerned with Cultural Heritage
  Dr Alessandro Chechi, Catholic University of Lille 
  
• The Restitution of Cultural Heritage
  Dr Evelien Campfens, University of Amsterdam 
  

  
Download the course programme  

Course leader

Kristin Hausler, Dorset Senior Research Fellow in Public International Law and Director, Centre for International Law, BIICL.

Course format

The virtual course format will consist of a series of 5 sessions in which live (synchronous) teaching is offered via Zoom. Participants will be able to interact with the tutors and amongst themselves on screen.

Testimonials from past attendees

"The course provided a very interesting overview of all the areas involved in the protection of cultural heritage."
"Good variation of topics, speakers and presentations all while remaining focused on the key themes...All resources and access to the course are easily available. 10/10!"
"Really great overview of everything."

Training scholarships

We are delighted to be able to offer scholarships designed to enable individuals from communities currently under-represented in the legal field to access our world-class courses and benefit from unparalleled learning experiences.

Scholarships are aimed at 3 categories: individuals from communities and backgrounds that are under-represented in the legal field in the UK and abroad; individuals who have recently received a needs-based bursary from their university or further-education college and representatives from Small Charities, NGOs, and Community-Based Organisations.

Applications for training scholarships must be received at least three weeks ahead of the course start date (4 September 2025). Applications must be made via the online form and applications received via any other means will not be considered.

Find out more and apply for a scholarship here 

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