Egypt, first Arab country to head UNESCO subcom. for 1970 cultural property treaty

CAIRO – 6 June 2018: Egypt was unanimously selected to be the head of UNESCO’s subcommittee for the 1970 treaty on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transport of Ownership of Cultural Property from May 2018 to May 2019.

During the sixth session of UNESCO’s subcommittee held on Friday in Paris, Egypt was chosen to chair the subcommittee to be the first Arab country to head it for a year.

In this regard, Jihad al-Rawi, supervisor of International Organizations of Cultural Heritage and International Cooperation, said that this reflects the appreciation of the subcommittee’s countries for the efforts made by Egypt to restore its illegally smuggled artefacts and cultural properties.

Rawi added that during the upcoming period Egypt will seek through the Ministry of Antiquities to coordinate with its Permanent Delegation to UNESCO to serve Arab interests by building capabilities to prevent the illegal trade and smuggling of antiquities, raise awareness, and set up a database of the antiquities in the Arab countries.

Before the selection, Egypt’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO participated from May 30 to 31, 2018, in the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin, or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP), held at UNESCO headquarter. In the session, Egypt offered its vision to enhance the committee’s procedures in preventing artefact smuggling and antiquities’ illegal trade.

The treaty, signed on November 14, 1970, includes 136 countries and has several committees and subcommittees, including the 1970 treaty on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transport of Ownership of Cultural Property.

The first session of the subcommittee, which includes 18 members, was held in 2013. Egypt was elected in 2017 to be among the subcommittee’s members, and its membership will end in 2022.

The treaty aims to take the necessary procedures to prevent a country from forcibly losing its cultural property whether through occupation or theft.