International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property

 On the occasion of the International Day Against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, APAC Labs’ aspires to raise awareness about the profound damage caused by cultural property theft and the urgent need to protect our cultural heritage from illicit trade. Illicit trafficking robs communities of their collective memory, cultural identity, and undermines the transfer of heritage to future generations. It threatens not only individual artefacts but the stories, traditions, and identities they embody, making their protection vital for sustaining global cultural heritage.

At APAC Labs, we are proud to be at the forefront of this fight as part of Project ANCHISE (Applying New solutions for Cultural Heritage protection by Innovative, Scientific, social and economic Engagement). ANCHISE is a Horizon Europe initiative dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable tools to combat cultural heritage looting and trafficking globally.

Our researchers have been actively involved in shaping ANCHISE’s toolkit of technological solutions, which aim to address critical challenges in identifying, tracing, and safeguarding cultural assets. We recently participated in the first demonstration of these tools, showcasing their potential to transform heritage protection. In addition, APAC Labs has contributed to webinars focused on understanding the impacts of illicit trafficking and exploring effective prevention strategies.

On such an important day, we emphasise the importance of advancing effective tools and fostering international collaboration to address the challenges of illicit trade in cultural heritage. These efforts are essential for ensuring the protection and sustainable management of cultural property worldwide.