Law Commons^™

Blood Antiquities: Addressing A Culture Of Impunity In The Antiquities Market, Paul Williams, Christin Coster

Articles in Law Reviews & Other Academic Journals

For decades, parties to conflicts have used the cover of war to destroy and loot cultural property and antiquities for financial gain and symbolic victory. The “blood antiquities” excavated in conflict areas and sold mostly in western markets fuel not only continued conflict, but also (as in cases such as Syria and Iraq) terrorism that can reach around the world. The culture of impunity for both buyers and sellers of antiquities allows the blood-antiquities trade to thrive.

A robust international legal framework does exist to ensure accountability for the destruction of cultural heritage. Because looting is a major cause of …

Pharaohs, Nubians, And Antiquities: International Law Suggests It's Time For A Change In Egypt, Angi Porter

Articles in Law Reviews & Other Academic Journals

Part I of this Comment describes the history and structure of Egypt's antiquities laws. It also describes Egypt's relevant international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In Part II, this Comment argues that the current state of Egypt's antiquities system is inconsistent with its international obligations. Part II considers whether Egypt's exclusion of the Nubians stems from Egyptological superiority narratives and analyzes which narratives Egypt could adopt without violating international law. Finally, Part …