The Role of Italy and UNIDROIT in the Drafting of the First Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention

This article explores the development of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its First Protocol, key tools for safeguarding cultural objects during wartime. It begins with a historical overview of early 20th-century legal frameworks, focusing on regulations for the transfer and restitution of cultural objects during conflicts. The study delves into the preparatory work for the Convention, highlighting the significant contributions of the Italian delegation and the involvement of UNIDROIT, particularly concerning the study of private international law issues related to good faith acquisitions of cultural objects. The article reveals the extensive yet underappreciated efforts of the Italian delegation, led by the President and Secretary General of UNIDROIT, in shaping the Convention and influencing the protection of cultural objects in the past century. The discussion extends to the aftermath of the 1954 Hague Convention, examining how unresolved issues were later addressed by the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects.