KATHMANDU: Countries around the world today are marking the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, an annual global campaign aimed at raising awareness about the theft, looting, and illegal trade of cultural heritage—from ancient sculptures and paintings to historical sites, artifacts, and traditional crafts.

Observed every year on November 14, the day serves as a reminder that illicit trafficking of cultural property affects all nations and strips communities of their identity, history, and cultural legacy.

In a statement, UNESCO noted that the roots of this crime lie in “ignorance and poor ethics,” with stolen cultural objects often circulating not only through underground black markets but also via seemingly legitimate channels such as auctions—including online platforms.

UNESCO emphasized that governments, cultural institutions, the art market, and the general public all have a role to play in preventing the illegal trade of heritage objects. This includes raising awareness, ensuring ethical buying and selling practices, adopting and enforcing strong legal frameworks, and protecting vulnerable cultural sites.

UNESCO adopted November 14 as the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property in 2019 during its 40th General Conference. The initiative aims to strengthen global cooperation and reinforce the implementation of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

Marking the occasion, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay urged nations to step up collective action, “We must collectively monitor the trade in stolen works in order to preserve humanity’s shared cultural wealth,” she said, adding that UNESCO will prioritize the issue at the 2024 G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

The organization stressed that buyers must conduct due diligence when acquiring cultural items to help prevent the circulation of stolen heritage and support global efforts to safeguard cultural property.