Month: October 2025

Antiquities Coalition Joins Regional Experts in Cairo to Support UNODC Mission Against Cultural Racketeering

Posted on by Parker Blackwell

Last week, Antiquities Coalition Executive Director Tess Davis spoke at a two-day working group meeting on Mapping Trafficking in Cultural Heritage in the Middle East: Trends, Conflict-Driven Vulnerabilities, and Regional Responses. The convening, hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and with support from the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), was held at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo.

Together, regional and international experts discussed the growing threat of antiquities trafficking, which enables transnational organized crime and terrorism, and which strips countries of valuable cultural heritage. 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted: 

“With globally increased recognition of the transnational crime elements in cultural property trafficking, UNODC’s role comes to the fore: as guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). UNODC supports member states in implementing crime prevention and justice responses, and in facilitating broad international cooperation to counter such crimes.”

A criminal justice approach is crucial for combating the transnational threats underlying cultural racketeering. Collaboration between international and regional partners is an essential milestone in the journey towards protecting cultural heritage for all. 

Learn more about how the UN is advancing stronger criminal justice responses to cultural racketeering.

Read the UNODC Press Release, here. 

The Antiquities Coalition Congratulates H.E. Khaled El-Enany on His Selection by the UNESCO Executive Board for Director-General

Posted on by Helena Arose

Historic Moment for the Organization and Egypt, with Elections set for November 6

WASHINGTON, DC — The Antiquities Coalition congratulates H.E. Khaled El-Enany, former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on his selection as Director-General by the board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). If his nomination is confirmed at the General Assembly meeting later this year, he will be the first director-general of UNESCO from an Arab country and the second from an African nation.

Dr. El-Enany has long been a leader in the protection and promotion of cultural heritage. During his tenure as Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, he advanced landmark archaeological and museum projects, promoted the link between cultural heritage and sustainable development, and strengthened international partnerships. This included joining forces with the Antiquities Coalition to combat cultural racketeering and terrorist financing through the 2015 Cairo Conference, co-hosted with Egypt, UNESCO, and the Middle East Institute. The ministerial brought together ten Middle Eastern and North African governments, resulting in the Cairo Declaration, a bold action plan committing participating countries to ongoing cooperation. As minister, El-Enany also oversaw the signing of Egypt’s bilateral cultural property agreement with the United States in November 2016, the first between Washington and an Arab nation—a milestone that laid the foundation for 7 subsequent U.S. bilateral cultural property agreements across the region.

El-Enany’s experience and dedication to safeguarding humanity’s shared past make him exceptionally qualified to guide UNESCO at this critical moment. As the birthplace of one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations, Egypt has long been a modern leader in preserving and celebrating cultural heritage—both its own and that of the broader international community. From pioneering legislation to curb looting, to championing restitution and collaboration across borders, Egypt has consistently advanced the principles that underpin UNESCO’s mission. 

“Dr. El-Enany’s election comes at a time when global cooperation is more vital than ever,” said Deborah Lehr, Chairman and Founder of the Antiquities Coalition. “His leadership reinforces the importance of national stewardship and strong international partnerships in protecting cultural heritage. At a time when cooperation faces growing challenges, his vision highlights how safeguarding culture supports global security, mutual respect, and shared prosperity.”

The Antiquities Coalition looks forward to continued collaboration with UNESCO under Dr. El-Enany’s leadership.

The New York Times Interviews Deborah Lehr on the Future of Antiquities Collecting

Posted on by Parker Blackwell

The New York Times recently featured Antiquities Coalition Chairman and Founder Deborah Lehr in an article exploring the future of antiquities collecting—which is threatened by the prevalence of looted, stolen, and fake works on the global market.

Lehr emphasized that responsible collecting is possible, but costly and never without risk:

“Overwhelmingly, we’ve found that dealers are not intending to deal with illicit antiquities, but it can cost a lot of money and require a lot of time to inquire into the backgrounds of these objects, and even major organizations that have those resources have been taken in, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

If institutions with world-class expertise and resources can be deceived, then average buyers must be especially cautious. 

The article also noted a growing interest in antiquities among young collectors who are poised to shape the art market of tomorrow. Antiquities Coalition Director of Programs Helena Arose commented last year that these emerging buyers have an opportunity to redefine the market by setting higher standards. Unlike past generations, young collectors are motivated not only by financial investment, but also by social responsibility. They do not want to risk funding war or organized crime through illicit purchases, and they are demanding greater transparency.

What does responsible collecting look like in 2025?

Experts interviewed by the New York Times highlighted three core practices for responsible collecting:

  • Conducting rigorous research into artifacts for sale—and those selling them
  • Writing in due diligence contingencies into buyers’ contracts
  • Checking artifacts’ provenance against stolen object databases maintained by law enforcement and private advisory groups

As Lehr pointed out, these steps can be expensive and time consuming, but there are also basic protections collectors can take to ensure their purchases are legitimate. These are outlined in the Antiquities Coalition’s “Buyer Beware” checklist available here. 

To read the full New York Times story, click here. 

Revisit Lehr’s related Op Ed in The Hill, “How to filter stolen cultural treasures out of the US art market.”