Indonesian Journal of Law and Economics Review
Vol 20 No 2 (2025): May
Private Law

Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Managing Iraq’s Cultural Heritage Revenues
Memperkuat Kerangka Hukum untuk Mengelola Pendapatan Warisan Budaya Irak


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  • Haleemah Khlaif Zghair*
Haleemah Khlaif Zghair
Osol Al-Elm University College, Iraq *

(*) Corresponding Author
Picture in here are illustration from public domain image or provided by the author, as part of their works
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21070/ijler.v20i2.1292
Published May 1, 2025
Keywords
  • Cultural Heritage,
  • Iraq,
  • Legal Framework,
  • Revenue Protection,
  • Sustainable Management
How to Cite
Zghair, H. K. (2025). Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Managing Iraq’s Cultural Heritage Revenues. Indonesian Journal of Law and Economics Review, 20(2), 10.21070/ijler.v20i2.1292. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijler.v20i2.1292

Copyright (c) 2025 Haleemah Khlaif Zghair (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Background: The protection of cultural heritage revenues in Iraq has become increasingly critical
due to widespread looting, smuggling, and illegal exploitation, exacerbated by the country’s shifting
security and economic conditions. Specific Background: Although Iraq possesses both domestic
and international legal frameworks designed to safeguard its cultural heritage, their practical
effectiveness remains hindered by implementation weaknesses and legal gaps. Knowledge Gap:
There is limited research analyzing how existing laws can be optimized to ensure sustainable
management and protection of revenues derived from cultural heritage assets. Aim: This study aims
to evaluate the effectiveness of legal measures governing the protection and management of Iraqi
cultural heritage revenues, while proposing reforms to strengthen these frameworks. Results: The
findings reveal that despite a robust legislative foundation, weak enforcement mechanisms and
insufficient inter-agency coordination impede optimal resource management. The research
highlights the necessity of modernizing legislation and enhancing administrative processes.
Novelty: By employing a comparative analytical approach, the study integrates insights from
international practices to propose actionable reforms tailored to Iraq’s context. Implications: The
study underscores the importance of legislative updates, enhanced transparency, international
collaboration for asset recovery, and the establishment of a national fund to ensure the conservation
and sustainable utilization of cultural heritage revenues. 

Highlights:

  1. Legal gaps weaken cultural heritage revenue protection.

  2. Global models guide legislative reform efforts.

  3. National fund ensures sustainable heritage management.

Keywords: Cultural Heritage, Iraq, Legal Framework, Revenue Protection, Sustainable Management

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References

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