Call by UNESCO and partners to fight against illicit trafficking of Sudanese cultural property

In times of armed conflict, heritage becomes particularly vulnerable. Since the beginning of the crisis in April 2023, reinforcement of measures to protect Sudan's cultural heritage has become crucial, notably in the framework of the UNESCO 1970 Convention against illicit trafficking of cultural property and other relevant international instruments.

UNESCO, together with its partners UNIDROIT, UNODC, INTERPOL, WCO and CINOA, calls upon the public and professionals involved in the trade of cultural property to refrain from acquiring or taking part in the import, export or transfer of ownership of cultural property when they have reasonable cause to believe that the objects have been stolen, illegally alienated, clandestinely excavated or illegally exported from Sudan.