History of OIMAP since 2007

In the early 2000s, the circulation of works was accelerating, but rules remained scattered across States. Trafficking in cultural property, forgeries and provenance disputes undermined the confidence of buyers and communities of origin alike.

Twenty-three States decided to build a common framework, based on existing conventions, and to create an organization capable of producing shared data, standards and services.

The Organization was built in successive layers. After the signing of the treaty, it created its Academy in 2008, opened the Desk in 2010, then launched the BIOP database in 2012. Each tool answered a need expressed by the States.

This progression explains the current structure: a stable treaty, specialised directorates and online services that evolve faster than the texts.

Two texts marked recent history: the Certification Guidelines of 2015, then the OIMAP Guidelines of 2019, seven in number, including No. 2019-07 on the authentication of cultural property. They harmonised the practices of Member States.

These texts rely on the 1954 Hague Protocol, the 1970 UNESCO Convention and the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention, which remain the legal foundation of the action.

From twenty-three members in 2007, the Organization grew to sixty-seven in 2024. New memberships followed the creation of the regional offices, which facilitated dialogue with the States of Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Americas.

This expansion made the Organization more representative and more demanding: procedures had to adapt to very diverse legal systems.

To understand where the Organization comes from, start with the founding countries. To place a specific event, consult the timeline of key dates. To find an older text or report, use the archives.

The activity report complements this reading with the most recent results.