Antiquities Coalition Promotes Integrity, Transparency and Accountability by Supporting Unifying Framework
June 3, 2021
The Antiquities Coalition is proud to support the World Economic Forum’s Unifying Framework, launched June 2 at an official side event to the United Nations General Assembly special session against corruption (UNGASS) by the Gatekeeper Task Force. This task force, which counts Antiquities Coalition Executive Director Tess Davis among its ranks, was convened by WEF’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) and Global Future Council on Transparency and Anti-Corruption.
WEF defines the Unifying Framework as a “value‑based self‑regulatory framework for private sector intermediaries who are strategically positioned to prevent or interrupt illicit financial flows.” The framework enhances the effectiveness of current regulations by uniting these “gatekeepers,” including advisers and dealers in art and antiquities, with the responsibility of undertaking five practices that will enable them to “realize the three core principles of integrity, transparency and accountability within and across gatekeeping industries”—an effort which, in turn, will help prevent and disrupt illicit financial flows.
These practices are as follows:
- Establish clear, concrete and up-to-date policies
- Promote effective due diligence
- Centre a culture of integrity through training and incentives
- Foster a “speak-up” culture
- Collaborate across industries and sectors
To read the full Unifying Framework publication, click here.
For a one-page explainer on the Unifying Framework, click here.
These recommendations overlap with many of the 44 recommendations that the Antiquities Coalition’s Financial Crimes Task Force devised to help guide the U.S. government, the financial industry, the international community and the art and antiquities sector in working together to keep financial crimes out of the art market.
For more information about the Financial Crimes Task Force and its recent report, click here.