Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
OIMAP
OIMAP
International Organisation
for the Art Market and Heritage
24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Member States

Geneva office

The liaison office with the United Nations and the WTO, which also monitors the four Middle Eastern States.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

An internationally oriented office

Scenes of Witchcraft: Day, Salvator Rosa (c. 1645–49)
Scenes of Witchcraft: Day, Salvator Rosa (c. 1645–49)

The Geneva office ensures OIMAP's liaison with the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. It also monitors the four Middle Eastern States, which makes it an office with a dual role.

It represents the Organization in Geneva-based forums, prepares OIMAP's contributions to negotiations on trade and heritage, and supports cooperation with other institutions.

Its e-mail address is geneve@oimap.example.

  • Geneva
  • UN
  • WTO

Geneva office in figures

1Liaison office
4Middle Eastern States monitored
2Liaison forums: UN and WTO
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Opening hours

Source: Member States Relations Directorate.

Distribution

International liaison45% (indicative)
Middle East30% (indicative)
Legal monitoring15% (indicative)
Representation10% (indicative)

Indicative breakdown of working time.

Liaison with the United Nations

The office follows the work of the United Nations institutions responsible for cultural heritage and the fight against illicit trafficking. It ensures OIMAP's participation in expert meetings and ensures consistency between the Organization's directives and the reference conventions, including the UNESCO 1970 Convention.

It passes on to Headquarters the normative developments that concern Member States.

Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: The Great Temple of Aboo-Simble, Nubia, Louis Haghe (1846)
Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: The Great Temple of Aboo-Simble, Nubia, Louis Haghe (1846)
Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Pyramids of Geezeh, from the Nile, Louis Haghe (1846)
Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Pyramids of Geezeh, from the Nile, Louis Haghe (1846)
Pair of Drawings: Sketch of the Labyrinth of the Villa Pisani and Piazza San Marco with Doges' Palace, Francesco Guardi (1773–1778(?))
Pair of Drawings: Sketch of the Labyrinth of the Villa Pisani and Piazza San Marco with Doges' Palace, Francesco Guardi (1773–1778(?))

Dialogue with the WTO

The rules of international trade and the circulation of works of art intersect on many points: customs duties, export procedures, certificates. The office follows the discussions of the World Trade Organization that are relevant to members and reports on them in summary notes.

These notes inform the positions defended by OIMAP and the training courses intended for customs officers.

Monitoring the Middle East

Geneva is the liaison office for the four Middle Eastern States: Jordan, a founding member, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. It organises their meetings, prepares support missions and serves as a point of contact for their focal points.

The region has a dedicated page, available at Middle East.

A small team

The office has a small team, about half a dozen staff (indicative): a representative, legal advisers, a programme officer for the Middle East and an assistant. It relies on Headquarters for technical matters.

The representative is the Organisation's spokesperson to the permanent delegations in Geneva.

Contact details and opening hours

Main contact.
InformationDetails
Email addressgeneve@oimap.example
AttachmentMember States Relations Directorate
Headquarters telephone+33 1 00 00 08 00
Opening hoursMonday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Milestones

  1. Opening of the office

    Liaison with the United Nations.

  2. WTO monitoring

    Regular briefing notes.

  3. Lebanon

    Accession and follow-up from Geneva.

  4. United Arab Emirates and Qatar

    Four States followed.

Remit of the office

Saint Mary Magdalen, Simon Vouet (c. 1630)
Saint Mary Magdalen, Simon Vouet (c. 1630)
Maharaja of Kotah Listening to Music and Watching Dancers (c. 1820)
Maharaja of Kotah Listening to Music and Watching Dancers (c. 1820)
Egypt and Nubia: Volume I - No. 4, Slave Boats on the Nile, View Looking Towards the Pyramids of Dashour and Saccara, Louis Haghe (1838)
Egypt and Nubia: Volume I - No. 4, Slave Boats on the Nile, View Looking Towards the Pyramids of Dashour and Saccara, Louis Haghe (1838)

Geneva or Paris

Nowshera, Kashmir (number 1000), Samuel Bourne (1864)

Geneva

Liaison and Middle East
  • United Nations and WTO
  • Four States followed
  • Small team

For international forums.

Banks of the Oise at Dawn, Louis Hayet (1888)

Paris

Headquarters and Europe
  • Twenty-five States
  • Plenary meetings
  • Project support

For the life of the region.

Contacting the office

  1. Identify

    The subject.

  2. Write

    At geneve@oimap.example.

  3. Agree

    For an appointment.

  4. Exchange

    With the representative.

  5. Forward

    The note to Headquarters.

Before an exchange

A permanent representative

The Apotheosis of Romulus: Design for a Ceiling, Domenico Maria Canuti (c. 1675–76)
« Having a relay in Geneva greatly facilitates our exchanges with international organisations. »
Karim Haddad, delegate (example)

Vocabulary

Liaison
Link between two institutions.
WTO
World Trade Organization.
Permanent delegation
Representation of a State to organisations.
Briefing note
Short document summarising a file.

Practical information

The office is open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are made by e-mail. Delegations visiting Geneva may request a briefing session there.

Requests concerning European States are directed to the Paris office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Geneva cover Europe?

No, that is Paris's role.

Which States does it cover?

The four Middle Eastern States.

What address?

geneve@oimap.example.

Where can I see the region?

Useful Documents

Contacts

Vue générale prise à l'angle sud-ouest, Philoe, Maxime Du Camp (1849–50)
Vue générale prise à l'angle sud-ouest, Philoe, Maxime Du Camp (1849–50)
Member States Relations DirectorateParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 08 00membres@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Write to the office

View of the Château of Pierrefonds, François-Louis Français (c. 1870)

Contact the Geneva office.

Middle East
Image credits (19)
▲