News Excerpt:

The Government of India and the Government of the United States of America signed the first ever 'Cultural Property Agreement' to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities from India to the USA, on 26th July, 2024 on the sidelines of the 46th World Heritage Committee, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

More about News:

• India, US signed a 'Cultural Property Agreement’ for retrieval of antique objects.
• The agreement was signed to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities from India to the US.
• The Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) is aligned with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the “Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, to which both countries are parties.”
• The Illicit trafficking of cultural property is a longstanding issue that has affected many cultures and countries throughout history. 
• A large number of antiquities have been smuggled out of Bharat before the ratification of 1970 UNESCO Convention, and which are now housed in various museums, institutions and private collections across the world.
• Union Minister highlighted that under India’s G20 Presidency, the ‘Protection and Promotion of Cultural Property’ emerged as one of the main topical priorities reflecting the core concerns of the Culture Sector globally, particularly those of the Global South. 
• The Kashi Culture Pathway’, the Outcome Document of the G20 Culture Working Group unanimously endorsed and called for a strengthened and effective global coalition to bolster the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
• India has repatriated 358 antiquities since 1976, out of these 345 have been retrieved since 2014.

About the Agreement:

• In 2022, the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America came on one stage to explore the possibility of strengthening bi-lateral ties under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. 
• In pursuance of these deliberations, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) India sent a Diplomatic Note to the USA counterpart which was positively received and responded to by the US counterpart through a diplomatic note on 16th March, 2023 to suggest procedures for entering into an agreement. 
• These steps included the determinations regarding the safeguard of cultural property and international cooperation in the field of the preservation and safeguarding of archaeological and ethnological materials. 
• The historical, cultural, legal situation and possibilities of cooperation was documented in the Statement of Fact, and various meetings and discussions were held on approbation by both the parties. 
• During the process an NGO 'Antiquity Coalition' has also played a vital role.
• The CPA restricts the importation into the United States of certain archaeological material ranging in date from 1.7 million years ago through 1770 CE and certain ethnological material, which may include categories of civic, religious, and royal architectural material, religious material and ceremonial items, and manuscripts ranging in date from 2nd century BCE to 1947 CE. 
• The list of such items restricted for import in the United States of America will be promulgated by the Government of the United States of America. 
• As per the agreement, the United States of America shall offer to return to India any object or material on the Designate List forfeited to the Government of the United States of America.
• The Agreement shall be helpful in quick seizure of Indian antiquities at US Customs and their repatriation back to India. 

World Heritage Committee:

• The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. 
• The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the Convention elected by their General Assembly. 
• At its first session, the Committee adopted its Rules of Procedure of the World Heritage Committee.
• It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. 
• It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. 
• It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

This agreement symbolizes not only the strength of bilateral relations but also a significant step forward in joint efforts to safeguard the treasures that embody our collective history, identity, and heritage. It is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that these invaluable artifacts remain in their rightful contexts and are preserved for the benefit of future generations.