Ecuador Joins UNESCO Campaign to Prevent Trafficking of Cultural Property
Ecuador joins UNESCO’s regional campaign to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural property, reinforcing its state policy and the recovery of thousands of heritage pieces.
The UNESCO campaign will be displayed in public spaces throughout Ecuador to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural property. Photo: INPC
June 10, 2026 Hour: 10:08 am
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On Tuesday, Ecuador joined a regional campaign to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural property, promoted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The initiative seeks to strengthen public awareness of the consequences of this crime within the country.
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According to the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, the campaign will be disseminated in public spaces throughout the country, with an emphasis on ports and international entry and exit points.
It also includes a coordinated digital communication strategy between the Ministry, the Vice Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC), UNESCO, and the institutions that comprise the National Technical Committee for Combating the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property.
The Government recalled that Ecuador is a State Party to the 1970 Convention and ratified the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. Since 2007, the country has declared this fight a State policy, consolidating mechanisms for cooperation and inter-institutional coordination for the protection of cultural heritage.
The text reads, “Ecuador recovered heritage from Italy in 1983 after seven years of legal battle. Today the challenge is the same: combating the criminal economies behind the trafficking of cultural goods.”
In this context, some 1,400 cultural objects have been identified as stolen by the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC), which issues ongoing alerts to facilitate their recovery. Ecuador has also recovered nearly 6,500 heritage objects through repatriation processes.
During the announcement event, the Spanish-language version of UNESCO’s Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Property was launched in the country.
This international platform is designed to raise awareness about the impact of looting and illegal trade, promoting the protection of cultural memory worldwide. Ecuador is part of this museum with seven cultural objects reported as stolen.
Author: HGV/JF
Source: Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural
