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India-US sign agreement to combat illegal trafficking of cultural property
The agreement will simplify the process by which looted and stolen antiquities are returned to their countries of origin.
Govind Mohan, Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Eric Garcetti, Ambassador of the United States of America. / Press Information Bureau
India and the United States have signed a first-of its-kind bilateral agreement aimed at preventing the illegal trafficking of cultural property and facilitating the return of heritage objects to their places of origin.
The US-India Cultural Property Agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee that took place in India. Union Cultural Secretary Govind Mohan and U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti, formalized the agreement in the presence of Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Indian Ministry of Culture announced on July.26
Shekhawat highlighted the significance of the agreement, stating, "It is a general agreement that will allow smooth repatriation of historic artifacts from the U.S. to India." He further disclosed that there are "297 items lying in the U.S., ready to be repatriated."
Since 1976, India has successfully repatriated 358 antiquities, with 345 of these retrieved since 2014. The agreement will simplify the process by which looted and stolen antiquities are returned to their countries of origin.
The U.S. Embassy in India noted that with this agreement, India joins 29 other nations that have similar bilateral cultural property agreements with the United States.
"This cultural property agreement is about two things. First and foremost, it's about justice - returning to India and to Indians, what is rightfully theirs. Secondly, it's about connecting India with the world. Every American and every global citizen deserves to know, see, and experience the culture that we celebrate here today. To know Indian culture is to know human culture," Ambassador Garcetti remarked.
Negotiated by the State Department under the U.S. law implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the agreement represents a significant step in international efforts to combat the illicit import, export, and transfer of cultural property.
Ambassador Garcetti also praised India's efforts in hosting UNESCO's 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, stating it underscores India's commitment to not only protecting its own cultural heritage but also assisting other nations in similar endeavors.
"This event marks the culmination of nearly two years of diligent work by experts from both countries and fulfills President Biden's and Prime Minister Modi's commitment to enhance cooperation to protect cultural heritage, as highlighted in the joint statement issued after their meeting in June 2023," the Embassy stated.
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