A cultural heritage title is a legal claim to an object that has a continuing cultural link to a person or place. The title entitles the owner of the object to control and access rights. It does not, however, define ownership in the conventional sense. It also does not grant the owner the right to destroy or alienate the artefact. The owner must consider the interests of the wider community when deciding what to do with the property.
The protection of cultural heritage is an important aspect of human rights law. The protection of the cultural heritage of another person or nation has several important aspects. First of all, cultural property is often protected under international law. This is because a cultural heritage is a vital part of an individual or community. It is also protected under international law and human rights law.
Historically, French culture and heritage have had different origins. Its heritage is a result of centuries of popular creation and different languages. In addition, the French state entered the 21st century with a proud history of protecting natural landscapes and stone monuments. The French were a “safe haven of freedom” for many different ethnic groups, but they destroyed their own linguistic and ethnic heritage. In addition, the French “gloire” and “grandeur” were based on cultural extermination and genocide.
The legal framework for the art trade is based on the 1970 UNESCO Convention on cultural property. However, there are blind spots in this regime. The Convention does not adequately cover losses that predate the UNESCO Convention, and it is unclear what communities have a right to when they lose cultural objects. This fragmented framework leaves room for different implementations and interpretations.