This blog post is authored by Deborah Lehr, Chairman and Founder of the Antiquities Coalition.

On December 6, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/79/L.16, an important milestone in the global fight against the illicit trade of cultural property. The resolution, titled “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin,” highlights the devastating impact of illicit trafficking on cultural heritage and calls for enhanced international cooperation to protect these invaluable assets.

This resolution underscores the growing recognition of cultural heritage as a key element of humanity’s shared identity and history.  Cultural racketeering not only robs us of better understanding our history, but harms local communities of the economic and social benefits that arise from cultural tourism. And this illegal trade often funds organized crime and, in some cases, terrorist activities. For the Antiquities Coalition, this is yet another affirmation of the urgent need to prioritize the protection of cultural heritage on the global agenda.

Satellite imagery showing the site of Dura Europos in Syria littered with looters pits, 2014, giving a small glimpse of the scale of destruction this crime has on a site and a country. Copyright DigitalGlobe, Inc.

A Call for Action Across the Supply Chain

One of the resolution’s most critical aspects is its emphasis on accountability across the entire supply chain. It urges member states to strengthen their law enforcement capabilities and develop specialized police forces, such as Italy’s renowned Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. Importantly, it also calls upon actors in the art market—including auction houses, museums, art dealers, and collectors—to take a proactive stance in ensuring the provenance of cultural objects. This is a vital step in addressing the demand side of the illicit trade, which has often been overlooked.

For too long, the art market been willing to operate in a grey area when it comes to the origins of the objects it trades, allowing stolen artifacts to circulate. The resolution’s focus on encouraging verifiable documentation of provenance and export certificates is a recognition by the United Nations that is an important loophole in the antiquities trade. By holding the market accountable, it would create a powerful deterrent against the trafficking of looted antiquities.

Strengthening International Cooperation

The resolution recognizes that combating this global problem requires a united effort. It commends the work of UNESCO, INTERPOL, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in harmonizing efforts and raising awareness. Additionally, it encourages member states to engage in bilateral agreements and mutual legal assistance to prosecute those involved in illicit activities. Such measures are crucial for dismantling the transnational networks that profit from the illegal trade of cultural property.

Countries proposing the resolution include Egypt, Italy, China, and Germany, among others, representing a broad coalition of nations committed to preserving humanity’s shared heritage. However, notably absent from the list of proposers was the United States, raising questions about the role of major art market nations in this fight.

A Step Forward, but the Work Is Far From Over

While the adoption of this resolution is a significant achievement, it is only one step in a much larger battle. The Antiquities Coalition applauds the UNGA’s leadership in spotlighting this issue, but we must not lose sight of the fact that the illicit trade in cultural property remains a pervasive global problem. Artifacts continue to disappear from conflict zones, museums, and archaeological sites, fueling organized crime and erasing irreplaceable pieces of our collective history.

Moving forward, we must ensure that this resolution’s recommendations are not merely words on paper but are implemented through concrete actions. Governments, international organizations, and the private sector all have a role to play in turning political will into tangible results. Together, we can disrupt the illicit trade, protect cultural heritage, and ensure that these treasures are preserved for future generations.

New Policy Brief from the Antiquities Coalition Details How the Culture Working Group Can Better Protect World Heritage

Culture is fundamental to both social and economic development—a fact now recognized by the highest levels of national government, the United Nations, and most recently, the Group of 20 (G20). 

The G20’s 19 member states and two regional bodies (the European Union and African Union) account for at least 90% of the global art market, as well as 85% of the global GDP and over 75% of global trade. Given these statistics, and its status as the premier international economic cooperation forum, the G20 is in a unique position to harness the full power of culture. 

A new policy brief from the Antiquities Coalition’s Think Tank seeks to support the G20 in this mission. Emeritus Professor Ian Lilley, past Secretary-General of the International Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM) and an internationally renowned leader in the field, puts forward 5 specific recommendations for the G20’s Culture Working Group (CWG). These include concrete steps the task force can take to protect culture, such as combating the illicit antiquities trade, as well as better incorporating preservation in sustainable development strategies. Lilley’s proposals build on those developed earlier by the Antiquities Coalition in their 2021 report, Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Conflict Zones: A Roadmap for the G20.

The 2020 Saudi Arabian Presidency marked the first time that culture was added to the G20 agenda. The next year, Italy launched the CWG, composed of representatives from Member States, partner nations, and relevant organizations. Also in 2021, a ministerial meeting in Rome established the group’s priorities, including fighting cultural racketeering, sharing information and technology, and supporting countries in crisis. The subsequent Presidencies of Indonesia (2022), India (2023), and Brazil (2024) have continued and expanded the CWG, while reinforcing its work through a series of summit and ministerial declarations—many of which are in line with the 2021 Antiquities Coalition report. 

However, despite this progress, there is much that remains to be done. As Lilley argues, “the foundations of the G20’s approach need to be strengthened to ensure its commitments to the protection of cultural heritage can be effectively translated to action on the ground.” His recommendations come as the G20 kicks off the 2024 Rio de Janeiro summit, which will take place November 18–19, and follows Brazil’s Cultural Ministerial on November 8. The latter resulted in the Salvador da Bahia Declaration, which reaffirmed the CWG commitment to preservation and specifically “strengthening the fight against crimes committed against cultural heritage and cultural institutions.” 

Lilley’s timely brief builds on these recent outcomes, charting a course for the future by offering actionable steps to strengthen and implement the G20’s cultural policies and ensure their impact.

For a summary and link to the policy brief, click here.

To read Salvador da Bahia Declaration, click here. 

To check out the AC’s work with the G20, click here.