The Confederation has expertise in the area of cultural property protection at both national as well as international levels. It collaborates with partners in Switzerland and abroad, namely international organisations, other federal agencies and cantonal authorities, as well as cultural institutions, specialist circles, and universities.

As a competence centre of the Swiss Confederation, the Cultural Property Protection Division in the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) represents Switzerland to foreign authorities in matters relating to the protection of cultural property in armed conflicts, disasters, and emergencies.