India-US Sign Historic ‘Cultural Property Agreement’ to Curb Antiquities Trafficking

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th July. In a landmark move to combat illegal trafficking of cultural artifacts, India and the United States signed their first-ever ‘Cultural Property Agreement’ on July 26, 2024. The agreement, formalized at the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, aims to prevent the illicit export of antiquities from India to the USA and facilitate the return of cultural property.

The Cultural Property Agreement (CPA), signed by Govind Mohan, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, and Eric Garcetti, U.S. Ambassador to India, in the presence of Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, aligns with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

Union Minister Shekhawat highlighted that the agreement marks a significant step in securing India’s rich cultural heritage and recovering valuable artifacts.

“This CPA represents a new chapter in the fight against illegal trafficking and the retrieval of antiquities to their rightful place,” he said. The Minister emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has repatriated 358 antiquities since 1976, with 345 returned in the last decade.

The agreement comes as part of India’s G20 Presidency priorities, focusing on the protection and promotion of cultural property. The Minister pointed out that the CPA culminates a year of bilateral discussions and reflects the commitment to strengthen global action against the illicit trafficking of cultural assets.

The CPA restricts the importation of specific archaeological and ethnological materials into the USA, including items ranging from 1.7 million years ago to 1947 CE. The United States has agreed to return any such items found to be in violation of the agreement.

The Department of Posts has also marked this occasion with an exhibition, “Re(ad)address: Return of Treasures,” showcasing 25 repatriated Indian objects. The exhibition, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on July 21, 2024, highlights the global efforts towards repatriation and the stories behind these artifacts.