Request a restitution

Those who may request a restitution are the owners of the work (persons or institutions), their rights holders, States or public authorities when the property belongs to the public domain or national heritage, and communities whose tradition establishes the link with the object.

The request must concern an identified or identifiable work, and rely on a precise fact: theft, looting, spoliation, illicit export. The unit refers applicants whose situation falls under another procedure.

The file comprises a description of the work with photographs, proof of ownership or the link with the applicant, an account of the circumstances of the disappearance, existing reports and records, the identity and supposed location of the holder, and an indication of the solution sought.

It is not necessary to gather everything on filing: the file can be supplemented during the investigation. But the more complete it is, the faster the admissibility decision. The unit helps to look for missing documents, notably in archives.

The unit can propose mediation between the applicant and the holder, organise an independent appraisal, facilitate exchanges with the authorities, or refer to the Arbitral Tribunal. It imposes no solution: the agreement belongs to the parties.

The applicant remains free to go to the national courts at any time, and the OIMAP procedure does not interrupt limitation periods. It is therefore prudent to consult a lawyer from the start.

For communities without legal resources, OIMAP provides enhanced support: help with drafting, use of volunteer experts, funding of part of the costs. These schemes are backed by the Protection Fund.

For States, the unit works with embassies and culture ministries so that the request fits with any diplomatic steps. Close coordination avoids contradictory messages.