The Principles for Cooperation in the Mutual Protection and Transfer of Cultural Material

I. INTRODUCTION

The Principles for Cooperation in the Mutual Protection and Transfer of Cultural Material ("Principles")1 provide a substantive framework for helping to avoid and to resolve disputes arising out of requests for the transfer of cultural material, usuaUy involving its return or restitution to countries of origin or indigenous groups. Adopted in 2006 by the International Law Association ("ILA"), the nine Principles were drafted by the ILA's Committee on Cultural Heritage Law after several years of research, prekminary reports, and review sessions.2

The Preamble to the Principles emphasizes the need for a guiding spirit of partnership among private and pubkc …