A cultural property is a result of artistic production or other human testimony that is recognized as important and worthy of preservation. If its protection status is institutional in nature, it is also referred to as a cultural monument. The totality of cultural assets is called cultural heritage or cultural heritage. The term cultural property protection generally refers to all measures to protect cultural property from damage, destruction, theft and loss. The concept of cultural property includes both movable and immovable goods. Cultural property is usually of archaeological, historical, literary, artistic and/or scientific significance. Cultural assets can be holdings of libraries, archives and museums as well as buildings (architectural monuments such as churches, monasteries, castles). Since the 1960s, works of technical culture have also been increasingly recognized as cultural assets (e.g. historical production facilities, means of transport, etc.). Cultural assets often originate from high culture, but they can also belong to folk culture, everyday culture or industrial culture. Damage to or destruction of cultural property in the course of armed conflicts (intentional or collateral), natural disasters or in the context of economic development, the looting of cultural sites, the theft of art objects from churches and museums and looted excavations at archaeological sites threaten the scientific development as well as the preservation of and general access to our common cultural heritage. The turnover from the illegal trade in cultural property runs into the billions. The resulting loss of cultural heritage is immeasurable. Along with trafficking in weapons, drugs, people, and endangered species, the illicit trade in cultural property is one of the most profitable branches of international organized crime and also serves to finance international terrorist organizations. As a result, the looting of cultural sites and the theft of and trade in cultural property also becomes a matter of international security.