Unanimous adoption by the GA of the Resolution on the Return or Restitution of Cultural Property to the Countries of Origin

Upon an initiative of Greece, the resolution on the Return or Restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin was adopted on December 12 by the United Nations General Assembly. The text of this resolution reflects the efforts that have been undertaken the past 3 years in the field of protecting cultural heritage and combating illicit traffic of cultural property. The GA welcomes the decision of the second meeting of the States Parties to the 1970  Convention on the Means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property to convene every two years and to create a subsidiary committee to promote the purposes of the Convention. Moreover, the resolution condemns recent attacks to world cultural heritage sites and calls for an immediate end to these acts. The wide support this Resolution has received (it was cosponsored by 98 Member States) can be considered as an important step forward in achieving the safeguarding of every country's cultural heritage.

Resolution