Cultural Property Agreement (CPA)

Cultural Property Agreement (CPA): The Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) has been recently signed with the United States of America (USA) to prevent smuggling of Indian antiquities.

• About Cultural Property Agreement (CPA): It’s objective to prevent illicit trafficking of Indian antiquities and ensure their retrieval to their place of origin.
• Alignment: Aligned with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
• Key Provisions: Restricts the importation of Archaeological material dating from 1.7 million years ago to 1770 CE.

o Ethnological material like civic, religious, and royal architectural items, religious and ceremonial artifacts, and manuscripts from 2nd century BCE to 1947 CE.

• Facilitates cooperation on technical assistance → illicit trade prevention → pillage of cultural property.
• India’s Global Role: Under India’s G20 Presidency, Protection and Promotion of Cultural Property emerged as a priority, highlighting concerns of the Global South.
• Bilateral Engagement: The CPA is the result of year-long bilateral discussions initiated under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
• Global Cooperation: The USA has similar agreements with Algeria, Belize, Bolivia, Cambodia, Egypt, Italy, Peru, Turkey, etc.