Antiquities Coalition Joins UNESCO and U.S. Embassy in Thailand for International Day Against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property
November 15, 2024
On November 14, 2024, the Antiquities Coalition was honored to participate in the Seminar on the Occasion of the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, co-organized by UNESCO and the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, brought together global leaders, cultural heritage experts, and law enforcement officials to address the ongoing crisis of illicit trafficking in cultural property, with a particular focus on the South-East Asian region.
Our Executive Director, Tess Davis, joined a distinguished lineup of speakers, including H.E. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Culture; H.E. Robert Frank Godec, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand; and Ernesto Renato Ottone, Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO. This event, which also included a repatriation of Ban Chiang artifacts from the U.S. to Thailand, highlighted the challenges and opportunities faced by South-East Asia, a region rich in cultural heritage but vulnerable to illicit trafficking due to its numerous global trade hubs and its growing role in the art and antiquities market.
Davis joined other experts on the first panel discussion, “Legal actions and challenges in implementing laws for antiquity protection.” In her remarks, she addressed the benefits of ratifying the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Currently, only four out of ten ASEAN countries—Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam—have ratified this important treaty, leaving significant gaps in the region’s defenses against cultural racketeering. Davis also stressed the critical role of organizations like the AC in bridging gaps between governments, law enforcement, the art market, and cultural institutions.
The AC is proud to have contributed to this essential dialogue and remains committed to raising awareness, strengthening policies, and fostering international cooperation to end the looting and trafficking of cultural property. We extend our gratitude to the Royal Government of Thailand, UNESCO, the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, and for their leadership in this fight.
Watch the session here: https://fb.watch/whPj2wEZ4v/
Learn more about the repatriated objects here: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2898366/trafficked-antiques-to-be-brought-home