The Government Canada is committed to strengthening efforts to prevent and combat cultural property crimes through international collaboration.
Today, the Government of Canada officially returned three religious reliquaries and associated documents to the Italian Republic. These special containers used to hold holy objects, originally imported into Canada from Italy, were intercepted by the Canada Border Services Agency due to concerns that they may be controlled cultural property.
Following an assessment by Canadian Heritage, which included expert evaluations and consultations with Italian authorities, it was determined that the importation may have violated the Cultural Property Export and Import Act. In December 2023, the Federal Court of Canada ordered the return of the objects to the Italian Republic.
Illegal trafficking in cultural property is a crime as well as a global crisis that undermines security, fuels terrorism and organized crime, and threatens cultural heritage worldwide. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that illicit proceeds from transnational art and cultural property crime reach $3.4 to $6.3 billion US annually.
As a signatory to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, Canada is committed to fulfilling its international responsibilities. This repatriation highlights Canada's dedication to combatting the illicit trafficking of cultural property and supporting global efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage.
Canada-Italy Symposium on crimes against cultural property
Earlier today, the Government of Canada hosted a one-day Canada-Italy symposium on crimes against cultural property, highlighting Italy's expertise and efforts to strengthen international cooperation. The event illustrated the potential for joint efforts, leveraging Italy's global leadership in protecting cultural heritage. The event brought together Canadian law enforcement officials, relevant Government of Canada representatives as well as heritage technical experts. The symposium focused on raising awareness and strategies to combat art-related crimes, including illicit trafficking and theft. The event also highlighted the importance of international collaboration, cooperation and knowledge sharing in tackling illicit cultural property trafficking.
By working together, Canada and Italy have demonstrated their strong commitment to protecting cultural heritage. The government hopes that this collaboration will be a meaningful step toward strengthening global unity in the fight against illicit trafficking.
