Permanent Delegation of India

In the 25th session of the ICPRCP, Amb/PR of India to UNESCO Sh. Vishal V. Sharma called the continued displacement of cultural property removed during colonial/foreign occupation as a human rights violation limiting the full realization of Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which affirms that: “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts…”

India further states that, Article 1 of the Declaration reminds us that all human beings are “born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Cultural dispossession is ultimately a question of dignity. Hence, the return of cultural heritage to its country of origin restores not only objects, but also memory, identity, and dignity.

India therefore calls for a serious international dialogue on evolving frameworks that allow retrospective consideration of cultural property removed during colonial or foreign occupation, including those predating existing conventions.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
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Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India

At of the ICPRCP under Agenda 12, Mr. Praveen Kumar Mishra, Joint Director General, ASI, thanked the ICPRCP Secretariat and experts for their valuable recommendations on the timely return and restitution of cultural property lost due to colonial or foreign occupation.

India emphasized the importance of bilateral & multilateral cooperation, provenance research, capacity-building, and the facilitative role of the ICPRCP in advancing meaningful restitution efforts.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
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Statement by the Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO, congratulating India and the Netherlands at the ICPRCP on the Return of the Chola era Copper Plates.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
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Statement by the ADG/Culture a.i., UNESCO, Mr. Lazare Eloundou-Assomo congratulating India and the Netherlands at the ICPRCP on the Return of the Chola era Copper Plates.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
DDNewsLive

Statement by the Permanent Delegation of Iran to UNESCO, congratulating India and the Netherlands at the ICPRCP on the Return of the Chola era Copper Plates.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
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Statement by the Permanent Delegation of the Czech Republic to UNESCO, congratulating India and the Netherlands at the ICPRCP on the Return of the Chola era Copper Plates.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
DDNewsLive

Statement by the Permanent Delegation of Colombia to UNESCO, congratulating India and the Netherlands at the ICPRCP on the Return of the Chola era Copper Plates.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
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Statement of the Ambassador/PD of the Kingdom of the Netherlands H.E. Ms. Monique T.G. van Daalen, on the return of the Chola era Copper Plates at the ICPRCP’s 25th session.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Archaeological Survey of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
DDNewsLive