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Workshop
on the Illicit Traffic of Cultural Property
Cuenca,
Ecuador 10 - 15 Sept. 1995
The Regional UNESCO-ICOM Workshop on Illicit Traffic of
Cultural Property, which took place in the
City of Cuenca, Ecuador, with the participation of representatives
of the cultural institutions of the Member States of Latin
America, of INTERPOL, of the World Customs Organization, of
UNIDROIT, of the International Council of Museums, Organization
of American States, and of the Indigenous Organizations of
the Region,
CONSIDERING
:
1.
That the economic processes of globalization entail standardization
of life styles, presenting a threat to the survival of cultural
diversity, and at the same time a reaction, towards reaffirmation
of identity and the value of what is one's own;
2.
That the identity of Latin America is based essentially
upon a cultural heritage which is the product of its historical
tradition, enriched by the contributions of different cultures,
which have generated diverses expressions of being, producing
a unity, which, at the same time, shows a wealth of diversity;
3.
That this heritage is subject to systematic and ever-increasing
expropriation, a fact that threatens human development and
international relations;
4.
That, furthermore, this contributes to irreparable loss
of ethical values, among the populace of the Region, and
diminishes the welfare of our peoples;
5.
That the State has diminished its governing role, as the
custodian entity responsible for the social function and
capitalization of the benefits of the cultural heritage;
6.
That the adherence of countries to the Conventions of UNESCO
1970 and UNIDROIT 1995, complementary on "MEASURES WHICH
SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN ORDER TO PROHIBIT AND TO PREVENT THE
ILLICIT IMPORT, EXPORT AND TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF CULTURAL
PROPERTY," AND ON "RESTITUTION OF STOLEN OR ILLEGALLY EXPORTED
CULTURAL OBJECTS," respectively, would strengthen international
relations;
RECOMMENDS
:
1.
That the State assume the appropriate role in reinforcing
the cultural identity of our peoples, by adopting the following
measures :
- Ratifying,
or adhering to the above mentioned international Conventions;
- Updating,
or implementing effectively relevant legislation;
- Creating,
or strengthening cultural organisms, by giving them sufficient
prestige and economic resources to carry out their mission
in an effective manner;
- Designing
policies and planning actions, ensuring their continuity
and effectiveness, or reinforcing those which already
exist;
- Incorporating
the civil society into the processes of increasing awareness
of strengthening of identity and preservation of cultural
property, designing strategies directed towards eliciting
participation of the media, police and customs control
organisms, and educational institutions, in their formal
and informal expression;
- Initiating,
or continuing with the inventory and registration of cultural
property, analogizing systems, utilizing existing networks
such as FORUM OF MINISTERS OF CULTURE OF LATIN AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN and the SICLAC project - and simplifying
formats which permit rapid identification and interchange
of information, a process which must have the active participation
of the civil society;
- Promoting
the establishment of tripartite commissions, made up of
representatives of Culture, Police and Customs, for the
furtherance of due coordination of protective actions,
control, and recovery of cultural property;
- Including,
as a matter of relevance, in regional and subregional
agreements, control of illicit traffic of cultural property;
- Promoting
specific bilateral agreements among States, dealing with
the protection of cultural heritage:
- Promoting,
through diplomatic channels, a more active attitude concerning
recovery of expatriated cultural heritage, as well as
concrete actions in the area of illicit traffic control.
2.
Furthermore, recommends generally that international Organizations
continue and redouble their actions in respect to protection
of cultural heritage and specifically as follows :
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO UNESCO :
- Promoting
among its Member States the ratifications of the above-mentioned
Conventions;
- Collaborating
with the Latin American Member States in furtherance of
:
- training
of specialized personnel in preservation of heritage;
creation and expansion of inventories, national registries
and information networks; design of cultural policies
and legislation related to relevant issues; planning of
continuing-educatio n seminars and workshops for organisms
connected to preservation and control of cultural heritage,
such as Customs, the Police, and Cultural Institutions.
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO ICOM :
- Striving
to successfully integrate the civilian population into
the preservation and conservation of heritage;
- Forwarding
the training of museum, customs, and police personnel;
- Motivating
the execution of measures of preservation of patrimony
at the community level, and of security in museums and
other institutions;
- Making
every effort to increase awareness of the importance of
conservation of cultural heritage, and distributing information
relevant to this theme;
- Furthering
the diffusion of ICOM's Code of Ethics,
not only among museum workers but among the population
in general;
- Encouraging
personnel of museums and related institutions, and collectors
who are holders in due course of cultural property, to
report the theft of any item immediately after its occurence;
- Urging
museums and related institutions to make an exhaustive
inventory of their cultural property.
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO INTERPOL AND THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION :
- Generating
agencies of liaison with cultural bodies, in order to
coordinate efforts towards conservation of cultural heritage;
- Participating
actively in national tripartite commissions;
- Disseminating
awareness among personnel as to what constitutes Cultural
Heritage;
- Collaborating
in the generation of Information Networks, related to
the different aspets of illicit traffic of cultural property.
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE FORUM OF MINISTERS OF CULTURE :
Being
mindful of the recommendations contained in this Decleration,
and adopting measures pertinent to their prompt execution,
and including the agenda of the next meeting of the Forum
the problem of illicit traffic of cultural property ad measures
to be taken for its control.
FURTHERMORE,
the participants in the workshop support the Decade of Indigenous
Peoples, and welcome their active participation in the deliberations
of this congress, with the suggestion that they make this
Document known to the World Council of Indigenous Peoples,
and to Indigenous Initiative for Peace, headed by Nobel
Peace Prize winner Rigoberts Menchu.
FINALLY,
the participants in the Regional Workshop express their
profound gratitude to the Government of Ecuador, to the
Sub-Secretary of Culture, to the National Council of Culture,
and to the Illustrious Municipality of Cuenca, for its generous
and cordial reception of us during the days of the Congress,
and to UNESCO, to ICOM, and to the President of the Organizing
Committee, for their enthusiastic promotion of such an important
event.
Solemnized
in the City of Cuenca, Republic of Ecuador, on the 13th
day of September, 1995.
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