G20 declaration underlines strengthening fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property; their restitution
New Delhi Declaration adopted at the G20 Summit emphasised the «strengthening» of the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property at the national, regional or international levels to enable its «return and restitution» to their countries and communities of origin.
Protection and restitution of cultural property is one of the four pillars of culture articulated under India's presidency of the influential grouping.
The G20 Summit was held at the newly-built Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan from September 9-10.
It was attended by US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron, among other world leaders.
The declaration, the adoption of which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came out at the start of the second session of the G20 Leaders' Summit on September 9.
The declaration also highlights the «crucial role of tourism and culture» as a means for sustainable socio-economic development and economic prosperity, and takes note of the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as one of the vehicles for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
«We call for the full recognition and protection of culture with its intrinsic value as a transformative driver and an enabler for the achievement of the SDGs and advance the inclusion of culture as a standalone goal in future discussions on a possible post-2030 development agenda,» reads the text of the declaration, under the sub-head 'Culture as a Transformative Driver of SDGs'.
The Preamble of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration begins by asserting that «We are One Earth, One Family, and we share One Future».
As Leaders of G20, the premier global forum for international economic cooperation, «we resolve to act in concrete
