The Code provides a shared ethical reference to advance efforts to ascertain the lawful provenance of cultural property and to reinforce cooperation with national authorities. It contains ten principles for professionals to follow, in conformity with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The Code of Ethics is now open for adherence by art market professionals. Traders are invited to submit a declaration to UNESCO, allowing them to demonstrate the concrete measures they are taking to uphold its ethical principles, while helping to promote good practices across the sector and raise standards globally.
“The revised Code provides art market professionals with a practical framework to guide responsible conduct in the trade of cultural property. By adhering to these principles, traders are expected to exercise due diligence, and cooperate with national authorities, thereby supporting collective efforts to prevent and combat illicit trafficking.”
Krista Pikkat, Director of Culture and Emergencies, UNESCO
The revision process took five years of dialogue among Member States, art market representatives and cultural heritage experts. When endorsing the revised Code, Member States emphasized that it should be conceived as a living document, inviting UNESCO to periodically assess its implementation in consultation with relevant stakeholders and ensure its continued relevance in light of evolving challenges related to such trafficking.
The revised Code was endorsed by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP) at its twenty-fifth session.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-revises-its-international-code-ethics-traders-cultural-property?hub=701
