EUBAM Libya Supports National Capacity to Protect Cultural Heritage

Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding Libya’s rich historical legacy, EUBAM Libya has concluded a four-day specialised training programme dedicated to protecting cultural property and preventing heritage-related crimes.

The training brought together 16 officers from the Libyan Tourism Police and the Libyan Customs Authority, highlighting the crucial cooperation between border control services and specialised law enforcement in protecting the nation’s cultural treasures.

Designed as an immersive learning experience rather than a series of lectures, the programme followed an end-to-end methodology, enabling participants to understand challenges encountered at borders and within national territory. The curriculum covered key operational areas, including legal frameworks, investigative techniques, operational tactics, risk analysis, and integrated border management.

EUBAM LIBYA

Brigadier General Ali Al-Qalhoud, Head of the Planning Department at the Tourist Police Department, stressed the wider importance of such efforts: “Cultural heritage does not belong to any single entity but to all humanity. Protecting it is a shared responsibility among local and international institutions, and EUBAM Libya plays an important supporting role in this effort.”

He further highlighted the comprehensive scope of the training: “The programme addressed all aspects of illicit trafficking and cultural heritage protection, covering both international and national legislation, risk management for archaeological sites, criminal aspects, and discussions of past cases.”

Through a combination of theoretical learning and practical exercises, the programme strengthened participants’ technical capacities and operational readiness, equipping them to implement more effective protection measures on the ground.

EUBAM LIBYA