The WWBA is Co-Sponsoring: Lincoln, Napoleon and Hitler Walk Into A Bar: Does the 1907 Hague Convention on Land Warfare Require Signatory Countries To Open Courts To Claims For Restitution of Nazi-Looted Art?

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https://www.wcbany.org/pg=events&evAction=showDetail&eid=294228&evSubAction=listAll

This program is managed by the Westchester County Bar Association, NOT the WWBA. To register, please use the above link, which will lead you to the WCBA webpage. Thank you!

Lincoln, Napoleon and Hitler Walk Into A Bar: 

Does the 1907 Hague Convention on Land Warfare Require Signatory Countries To Open Courts To Claims For Restitution of Nazi-Looted Art?

Article 47 of the 1907 Hague Convention on Land Warfare forbids pillage. Art 56 requires "legal proceedings" for seizures of artworks.   In the post-World War II period, many of the signatory countries of the Hague Convention have closed their courts to artwork claims over Nazi looting using statutes of limitations and acquisitive prescription.  Mr. Dowd argues that this approach violates international law and is immoral. The Hague Convention signatories intended to take the profit out of wars of aggression.  He further argues that barring claims to stolen artworks violates the Hague Convention and defeats the drafters' goal of taking the profit motive out of wars of aggression and rewards those who conceal and launder stolen property. In the United States, the Holocaust Victims Redress Act of 1998 applies the 1907 Hague Convention to claims to Nazi looted art.  The Holocaust Art Restitution Act of 2016 (the “HEAR Act”) reopened U.S. courts and extended statutes of limitations. Mr. Dowd also contends that this approach by the U.S. Congress is the solution consistent with international law that should be adopted by courts and by legislatures in other signatory countries. Finally, he argues that a Directive from the European Parliament requiring European countries to open their courts to claims of Nazi art looting is the best vehicle for achieving this result.

Speaker:

Ronald J. Dowd, Esq.; Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP

Date: February 11, 2925
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Price: FREE for All

Format: Zoom webinar (two-step registration process)

CLE Credit: 1 Professional Practice

Thank you to our CLE sponsor: 

Co-sponsored by: