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.

Strong Statement Follows Fourth Annual G20 Cultural Ministerial Meeting

From November 18–19, global leaders convened in Brazil for the 2024 G20 Summit. At this meeting, heads of state committed to building a fair, sustainable world with a specific priority to fight inequality. These discussions resulted in the 2024 G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration. 

Culture played an important role throughout the Brazilian presidency, which is reflected in the Declaration. In section 28, G20 leaders “recognize culture’s power and intrinsic value in nurturing solidarity, dialogue, collaboration and cooperation, fostering a more sustainable world, in all dimensions and from all perspectives.” They also enshrine key invocations for member states, including supporting relevant law and policy such as the UNESCO conventions, strengthening the protection of cultural heritage, and fostering an open dialogue about the restitution of cultural property. 

This strong language follows the fourth G20 Cultural Ministerial, held on November 8th in Salvador. At this year’s meeting, Brazil’s Minister of Culture noted the impact of the inclusion of culture in G20 technical discussions: “Through the power of its contribution, Culture has proven to be a genuine tool for promoting dialogue, showing the way to understanding and peace, and demonstrating how we can, through our diversity, create common development strategies.”

During its G20 Presidency, Brazil focused on four topics under the cultural working group:  cultural diversity and social inclusion; culture, digital environment, and copyright; creative economy and sustainable development; and preservation, safeguarding, and the promotion of cultural heritage and memory. The Ministerial meeting concluded with the signing of the Salvador da Bahia Declaration, which addressed each of the four priorities. Importantly, the Declaration reiterated the groups “concern about the continued looting and trafficking of cultural property” and reaffirmed its “commitment to strengthening the fight against crimes committed against cultural heritage and cultural institutions.” 

The Salvador da Bahia Declaration also called for specific actions, such as: 

• The full recognition and support of culture as an enabler for the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and as a potential standable goal in future development agendas 
• Strengthened global coordination to bolster the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property though cooperation, capacity building, technical exchanges, due diligence, and education
• The ratification and effective implementation of international agreements such as the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two protocols, the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and the UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects
• Support of an open and inclusive dialogue on the return and restitution of cultural property, including illegally exported property

The AC welcomes these outcomes, which reflect our own recommendations made in our Task Force Report, Safeguarding Cultural Heritage In Conflict Zones: A Roadmap for the G20 to Combat the Illicit Trade, published in 2021.

The G20, as the premier forum for international economic cooperation, is in a unique position to make a difference in the global fight against the illicit trade in antiquities and the protection of cultural heritage around the world. In 2025, South Africa will assume the presidency of the G20, marking the first time an African country has assumed this position. The AC looks forward to supporting these developments during its tenure, under the theme of “solidarity, equality and sustainability.”

Read the Leaders’ Declaration here.

Read the Salvador da Bahia Declaration here.

Read more about South Africa’s presidency here.

Organization Reflects on a Decade of Work in the Fight Against Cultural Racketeering

As long as there have been tombs, there have been tomb raiders. Yet in the modern world, this plunder is taking place on a scale never before seen in history. Criminals, armed insurgents, and even violent extremists are stealing entire chapters of our shared history to feed a growing demand for ancient art.

We created the Antiquities Coalition to fight back.

To protect our shared heritage and global security, the Antiquities Coalition is leading the global campaign against cultural racketeering, the illicit trade in ancient art and artifacts. We champion better law and policy, foster diplomatic cooperation, and advance proven solutions with governments, law enforcement, and the legitimate market. We are working towards a future when the past is preserved for the next generation, not looted, smuggled, and sold to finance crime, conflict, and terror.

Since our founding in 2014, we have grown from a startup to a major player in the field, which is now partnering with the United States, numerous foreign governments around the world, and intergovernmental organizations like the G20. We are the first to realize we still have a long way to go–however, we are proud of what we have been able to achieve. 

We have created a diverse network of partners, advocates, and supporters who share our mission, creating meaningful change to protect cultural heritage around the world. We have developed actionable recommendations for governments, the private sector, and civil society, raised awareness at key international conferences, launched impactful campaigns, and published significant research that has transformed our approach to this global crisis.

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Antiquities Coalition, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our supporters—partners, advocates, and community members—who have joined us. We are proud to stand united with a diverse network of partners and supporters who share our mission.

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.

Photo Courtesy of UNESCO Bangkok.

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

Cultural racketeering is not just the romantic subject of Hollywood films and mystery novels— it poses immediate threats to national security, global economy, and human rights around the world. 

On November 12, the Antiquities Coalition was honored to lead a thoughtful discussion as part of the Meridian International Center’s “Cultural Diplomacy Salon Series” in partnership with the Antiquities Coalition and Lugano Diamonds, focused on the Illicit Art Market and the Fight for Cultural Preservation.

AC Chairman Deborah Lehr and Executive Director Tess Davis in conversation. Photo Credit Stephen Bobb Photography.

Leading experts, including Deborah Lehr, Chairman and Founder of the Antiquities Coalition, Tess Davis, Executive Director of the Antiquities Coalition, Special Agent Jessica Dittmer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Art Crime Team, and Dr. Richard Kurin, Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador at Large for the Smithsonian Institution, came together to explore the far-reaching impacts of art crime on the world today. Most importantly, discussants drew on their collective experience to share with the government, military, civil society, and the private sector why we must pursue immediate action to combat this global threat.

Speakers called for ethical practices across the art market, noting how every part of the trade can be affected by cultural racketeering.They highlighted how changing technologies bridge gaps in oversight but also create new threats, citing examples involving AI and satellite imagery. Amidst these technological advancements, panelists upheld the centrality of interpersonal and interagency collaboration to protect cultural property.  

Complex and often contradictory national and international laws can hinder law enforcement. Moving forward, governments must work together to develop robust legislation, strengthen international treaties, and leverage cultural diplomacy to combat crimes in the art and antiquities market.

The Antiquities Coalition is proud to work with partners to bring together diverse experts and perspectives to strengthen the global response to cultural racketeering, ensuring that culture remains a force for connection and diplomacy— not sold to the highest bidder.

Learn more about Meridian International’s work to safeguard culture, here.

AC Convenes Global Experts at the 12th UNTOC Conference of the Parties

In the last 50 years, the UN has taken great strides to address the looting and trafficking of cultural property, from the Security Council, to the General Assembly, to offices and agencies including UNODC and UNESCO. However, organized crime in the cultural sector goes far beyond illicit trade. 

To effectively broaden the global approach to cultural crimes, the AC was proud to co-host a side event on the margins of the 12th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, titled Beyond Looting and Trafficking: Recommendations for  Combating Crimes Facilitated by the Art Market. In collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Governments of Italy, Mexico, and the United States, the event the reintroduced this critical issue to the meeting’s agenda for the first time in over 10 years, marking it as the only side event dedicated to cultural racketeering.

In her opening remarks, Executive Director Tess Davis emphasized the value of the topic’s inclusion: “UNODC has a valuable role to play, as does its groundbreaking instruments, especially the Conventions against Corruption and that against Transnational Organized Crime. These treaties, two of the most adhered to in the world, could be valuable tools in the fight against criminal misuse of the art market. UNTOC, specifically, can further the criminalization of relevant offenses, create frameworks for international cooperation, and strengthen training, assistance, and prevention.”

Criminals will and have gravitated to cultural property and the art market, where there are many opportunities, gaps, and loopholes to exploit in order to to commit a wide range of offenses from trafficking, to fraud, forgery, tax evasion, money laundering, and sanctions violations. In many jurisdictions, the sector is not yet subject to the standard legal protections and oversight covering similar high-risk, high-value industries. Art is frequently referred to as the largest unregulated market in the world, which, as these examples show, leave it vulnerable to bad actors. In addition, these crimes are often viewed as white-collar or victimless. Therefore, despite the work of law enforcement, there are few prosecutions for these serious crimes that threaten our shared heritage, national economies, and global security, meaning those engaged in these crimes see seizures, forfeitures, and repatriations as just the cost of doing business.

Speakers including Mr. Murat Yildiz (Trafficking in Cultural Property Lead of the Global Programme on Criminal Network Disruption for Border Management Branch at UNODC), First Chief Warrant Officer Monica Satta (Cultural Heritage Protection Carabinieri Command), Counsellor Diego Alonso Simancas Gutierrez (Deputy Representative of Mexico to the UNODC and the Wassenaar Arrangement), and Dr. Greg Borgstede (Division Chief in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Office of Western Hemisphere Programs) addressed these issues head on, providing a number of concrete recommendations for member states, the public, and the international community.

1. At the national level, there is a great need to study, harmonize, and update domestic laws, while providing much-needed training to legislative drafters, attorneys, and judges. Member states should also consider criminalizing cultural crimes as “serious offenses” under the UNTOC, if they have not done so already.
2. Successes in recovering objects are often due to interagency and international cooperation, which can be better facilitated by IGOs and the UNTOC. 
3. Approaches by member states to this issue can and should model approaches to other types of crime, such as drug, weapon, or wildlife trafficking – this can also make solutions more comprehensive and cost-effective.

UNODC reinforced the importance of the UNTOC framework for achieving these goals:  “The UNTOC framework is essential for tackling trafficking in cultural property and related crimes across borders. UNODC is committed to supporting Member States by enhancing the capacity of criminal justice practitioners—through technical assistance in prevention, detection, prosecution, and adjudication—to strengthen cross-border cooperation in the fight against trafficking and illicit trade.”

Crimes that involve cultural property or works of art are crimes, first and foremost. The AC thanks Italy, Mexico, the United States, and UNODC for sharing their expertise and experience, a strong sign that an increasing number of governments of the world recognize the need for action at the top to bar criminals from the $70 billion global art market.The AC remains committed to promoting  innovate solutions for combating looting and enhancing the protection of cultural heritage across the globe.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have released their 2024 Vision Statement as part of the organization’s 44th and 45th Summits, held in the People’s Democratic Republic of Lao, this year’s Chair.

In sign of the ASEAN’s continued prioritization of cultural heritage, this guiding document announced a new regional initiative:

“We noted the significant efforts to protect, preserve and promote our rich cultural heritage through deepening cooperation with partners in the areas of research, capacity-building and digital culture, and the development of the feasibility study on the envisaged ASEAN Cultural Heritage List.”

ASEAN’s ten governments are already home to 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The ASEAN Cultural Heritage List (ACHL) would complement UNESCO’s efforts to inventory significant heritage while also addressing the region’s specific needs.

The ACHL would also be a boon to agencies responsible for enforcing ASEAN member states’ four regional legal instruments for the protection of cultural property. Databases give authorities a way to identify artifacts, helping authorities catch stolen antiquities, eliminating the payout for looters.

In 2022, Cambodia used its platform as ASEAN Chair to unite the region in the fight against the looting and trafficking of cultural heritage—a transnational crime that is still threatening Southeast Asia’s rich heritage, local communities, and national economies. That same year, the Antiquities Coalition joined the Kingdom’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in recruiting high-level experts to share global best practices at a convening titled, “The Prevention of the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Properties: An ASEAN Perspective.”

Following Cambodia’s leadership on this issue, ASEAN continues to address cultural destruction and looting. Their strong statement recognized that the illicit trade is a serious transnational crime threatening Southeast Asia’s rich heritage and harming local communities. Safeguarding cultural heritage and building a responsible market are goals pursuant to ASEAN’s broader goals of maintaining and enhancing peace, security, and stability, and committed to collaboration.

The Antiquities Coalition commends the members of ASEAN for their enduring dedication to protecting cultural property.

Read the full statement here.

Learn more about past ASEAN Commitments, here.

Antiquities Coalition joins leading heritage experts in Milan for UNESCO’s “Preventing art crimes through regulation and self-regulation. A partnership between public and private actors.”

In Milan, Executive Director Tess Davis complemented discussions on so-called “soft law” in the private sector with success stories from state initiatives from such international groups as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Group of 20 (G20), as well as examples of bilateral cooperation like the 2021 Manama Statement of Cooperation between the US and Bahrain to combat criminal misuse of the art and antiquities market.

Today, cultural heritage faces very different challenges than half-a-century ago, when much “hard law” was created. Unlike “hard lad,” “soft law” is not legally binding, and  can include agreements, principles, declarations, statements, recommendations, guidelines, standards, and other instruments used by states and international organizations. 

Expanding economies globally continually grow international demand for ancient art. At the same time, trade—both legal and illegal—increases. Technological advances such as overnight global shipping, social media, and money transfer apps provide accessible outlets for easy, immediate, and anonymous exchange of cultural materials in the international market.

In this new digital age, many of the legal frameworks conceived in the mid-20th century to prevent crimes involving art and antiquities fall short. Presenters in Milan recalled Jeffrey Robinson’s remarks on “The Globalization of Crime”:

“As long as we live in a world where a sovereignty philosophy from the 17th century is reinforced by a legal system conceived in the 18th century, based upon a conception of the fight against crime from the 19th century, which is still trying to come to terms with 20th century technology, the 21st century will belong to international criminals.”

The legal change necessary to meet 21st century challenges is arduous and will take time. However, soft law offers tools to mitigate crime in the interim. Although soft law mechanisms between state parties are less binding than treaties, they are often more inclusive, more efficient, and include stronger language, demonstrating political will, establishing priorities, and endorsing best practices to new audiences.

Speakers affirmed how soft law tools can raise awareness of these criminal threats. Still, persistent cases of high stakes global art crime, carried out by oligarchs and terrorist financiers show the limitations of soft law and self-regulation. Ultimately, both soft law and legal conventions are needed to strengthen law enforcement and support judicial action to hold criminals accountable for dangerous crimes made possible by the globalized art market.

Learn more about the conference here.

Explore the potential of soft law mechanisms in our report, Roadmap for the G20 to Combat the Illicit Trade in Cultural Objects.

Executive Director Tess Davis and leading Ukrainian heritage professional Ihor Poshyvailo discuss threats to museums in Ukraine, and the world.

Recent years have been witness to the world’s leading museums caught up in scandals, lawsuits, and even criminal prosecutions for acquiring, possessing, or even just displaying stolen or looted art and antiquities. Together, actors in public and private cultural sectors have made significant progress on these fronts, but much remains to be done. 

Responsible players in the art market are also beginning to recognize their vulnerability to new emerging threats—that is financial crimes in the art market.

Addressing the world’s leading experts in museum security at the Smithsonian National Conference on Cultural Property Protection held at the Getty Museum, Executive Director Tess Davis spoke about recent case studies of economic crime, providing a new perspective on the leading risks to museum institutions’ staff and reputations. Davis opened the discussion with this affirmation,

“Any institution that operates within the art market, any institution that accepts donations, frankly any institution that operates globally, even—and perhaps especially—public institutions like museums, needs to be aware of what is happening.”

Following her remarks, Davis interviewed Dr. Ihor Poshyvailo, General Director of the National Museum of Revolution of Dignity and the Co-Founder and Coordinator of the Heritage Emergency Response Initiative. Dr. Poshyvailo has been on the frontlines of the war of Russian aggression in Ukraine, experiencing firsthand how cultural identity and heritage have become weapons and victims in the ongoing conflict.

Historical propaganda has long been a central component of Moscow’s information warfare campaign. However, since the 2014 invasion of Crimea, art has likewise been a documented tool for key Kremlin allies to evade sanctions, launder money, and hide their substantial assets. Recalling looting in museums by Russian armed forces, Igor painted a picture of the harsh realities museum professionals on the ground in Ukraine face to this day.

From the event, participants gained a greater appreciation of the risks inherent in today’s art market. As both market participants and stewards of sought-after cultural materials, museum institutions have tremendous potential to change the art world for the better–or worse.

Follow the critical work of the Heritage Emergency Response Initiative

Learn more about Russia’s cultural warfare in our Think Tank Policy Brief, here.

Read AC Founder and Chair Deborah Lehr’s Op Ed on how Russian oligarchs use the art market to evade US Economic Sanctions, here.

G7 Italian Presidency Convenes World Powers to Confront Transnational Threats Posed by the Illicit Trade In Cultural Goods

On September 19-21, world leaders met in Naples for the 2024 G7 Cultural Ministerial. At the meeting’s conclusion, the G7 leaders adopted the Ministerial Declaration on Culture, Common good of humanity, and Common responsibility.

Like the Group of 20 (G20), the Group of 7 (G7) unites global economic leaders to confront the world’s leading problems. Current G7 members include the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), and representatives form the European Union.

This year, Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli brought Ministers of Culture from the G7 Member States for a meeting, which addressed critical heritage issues including protecting cultural identities, culture in the time of artificial intelligence, climate change resilience, and—notably—the global fight against the illicit traffic of cultural goods.

The G7 Ministerial Declaration highlighted the threat posed by illicit art and antiquities trafficking:

Acknowledging that illicit trafficking of cultural property is not only linked to organized crime and in some cases even terrorist financing, the latter notably in conflict or post-conflict situations, but cultural property can also be misused for money laundering, corruption, tax evasion and sanctions evasion.”

The statement also importantly introduced targeted actions to combat these threats:

• To improve the prevention and detection of transnational crimes involving art and antiquities, members committed to strengthening cooperation and coordination, with the help of leading and emerging international agencies in the space. Alongside established powerhouses such as UNESCO, ICCROM, OSCE, WCO and Interpol, the Declaration encouraged members to capitalize on protections offered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). These protections are enumerated in the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the UN Convention Against Transnational Crime (UNTOC).
• G7 members will consider the possible negotiation of bilateral agreements to streamline cooperation between our competent authorities in the process of research, identification and return of illicitly trafficked cultural property. Such agreements between countries with large markets for antiquities, so-called “market countries” would aid in preventing illicit cultural imports and would hugely benefit recovery and restitution efforts. 
• To further transnational cooperation, the G7 states will use their advantage as tech pioneers to promote accessibility and interoperability among existing tools and national databases on stolen cultural property. Members also commit to support AI-powered investigative tools to analyze the art market and to monitor and inspect the illegal trade of cultural property, similar to the Stolen Works of Art Detection System (SWOADS) developed by the Italian Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. 
• Lastly, members made major commitments for capacity building—particularly in developing countries— through partnerships with international organizations, culture and heritage professionals, law enforcement units and customs and judiciary authorities.

The Antiquities Coalition welcomes these recommendations, many of which are in line with those we have made in our three task force reports and a number of separate events. It is more critical than ever for market countries to take action in the global struggle to protect shared cultural heritage threatened by the illicit market. Combined the G7 countries account for more than 69% of the global art market. 

Access the Ministerial Declaration on Culture, Common Good of Humanity, and Common Responsibility and learn more about the ongoing work of the G7 Italian Presidency, here.

Check out recommendations from our G20 Task Force, our Financial Crimes Task Force, our Culture Under Threat Tasks Force, and our events with UNCAC and UNTOC.