Rzymska Konwencja Restytucyjna (RKR) wzmacnia międzynarodowy system ochrony dóbr kultury przed ich nieregularnym (w tym nielegalnym) przemieszczeniem. Jest elementem rozbudowywanej siatki uniwersalnych regulacji służących ochronie dorobku kulturowego poszczególnych krajów i społeczności – jeszcze niepełnej, ale stale uzupełnianej. Zasadniczą formułą RKR jest zasada bezwarunkowego zwrotu skradzionych lub nielegalnie wywiezionych dóbr kultury, nawet jeśli aktualny ich posiadacz pozyskał je zgodnie z prawem. Konwencja ta określa istotne w postępowaniach restytucyjnych kwestie proceduralne: zasadnicze elementy postępowania w sprawie zwrotu, najważniejsze zagadnienia dowodowe, kwestie wypłaty odszkodowania posiadaczowi w dobrej wierze, a także właściwość organów państwowych. Skutkiem dostosowania się poszczególnych państw do jej wymogów jest zwiększenie przejrzystości reguł krajowych, a przez uniwersalizację standardów – podwyższenie efektywności międzynarodowego systemu służącemu restytucji dóbr kultury na rzecz podmiotów uprawnionych. 

Functions of international regulations protecting illegally exported cultural objects as exemplified by the UNIDROIT Convention of 1995

Abstract

The 1995 Rome Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (UNIDROIT) makes a significant contribution to the international system of protection against the illegal export of cultural goods. It also constitutes part of a network of world-wide regulations that is currently being built up with the aim of protecting the cultural heritage of individual societies. This network, not yet fully complete, is still expanding and developing. The basic formula of UNIDROIT is the principle of the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural property, including cultural objects legally acquired but not transferred to a legally entitled entity.
The Rome Convention specifies procedures that are of material importance in restitution proceedings such as: the principal elements of proceedings in restitution cases, the main evidential issues as well as the competence and jurisdiction of state bodies. The effect of individual states harmonizing their regulations with the provisions of the Convention is the improved transparency of national regulations and the increased efficacy of the international system for the restitution of cultural objects arising from the establishment of world-wide standards.
 

The 1995 Rome Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (UNIDROIT) makes a significant contribution to the international system of protection against the illegal export of cultural goods. It also constitutes part of a network of world-wide regulations that is currently being built up with the aim of protecting the cultural heritage of individual societies. This network, not yet fully complete, is still expanding and developing. The basic formula of UNIDROIT is the principle of the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural property, including cultural objects legally acquired but not transferred to a legally entitled entity.
The Rome Convention specifies procedures that are of material importance in restitution proceedings such as: the principal elements of proceedings in restitution cases, the main evidential issues as well as the competence and jurisdiction of state bodies. The effect of individual states harmonizing their regulations with the provisions of the Convention is the improved transparency of national regulations and the increased efficacy of the international system for the restitution of cultural objects arising from the establishment of world-wide standards.