27-29 November 2024

From November 27 to 29, 2024, the workshop “Fighting against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property in the Western Balkans” took place in Skopje, North Macedonia. This event was funded by the European Commission (DG NEAR/DG EAC) and organized by UNESCO through the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (Venice) and its Antenna in Sarajevo.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the fight against illegal activities targeting cultural heritage by improving legislative frameworks and capacity building among key stakeholders. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, law enforcement agencies, customs authorities, prosecutors, judiciary, cultural heritage institutions, and NGOs.

During the event, Irena Ruzin and Jove Pargovski from the NI Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments and Museum Bitola, part of the Balkan Museum Network, presented the AURORA project. Their presentation highlighted the project’s role in addressing illicit trafficking and its contribution to preserving and protecting cultural heritage in the region.

This event underscores AURORA’s commitment to fostering international collaboration and advancing innovative solutions to protect cultural property in the Western Balkans.

From November 27 to 29, 2024, the workshop “Fighting against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property in the Western Balkans” took place in Skopje, North Macedonia. This event was funded by the European Commission (DG NEAR/DG EAC) and organized by UNESCO through the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (Venice) and its Antenna in Sarajevo.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the fight against illegal activities targeting cultural heritage by improving legislative frameworks and capacity building among key stakeholders. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, law enforcement agencies, customs authorities, prosecutors, judiciary, cultural heritage institutions, and NGOs.

During the event, Irena Ruzin and Jove Pargovski from the NI Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments and Museum Bitola, part of the Balkan Museum Network, presented the AURORA project. Their presentation highlighted the project’s role in addressing illicit trafficking and its contribution to preserving and protecting cultural heritage in the region.

This event underscores AURORA’s commitment to fostering international collaboration and advancing innovative solutions to protect cultural property in the Western Balkans.