16th Session of the Committee

From 21-09-2010   to   23-09-2010
 (Paris - France) 

• The Makonde Mask©ICOM

The sixteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of illicit appropriation took place at UNESCO Headquarters, Fontenoy building, from 21 to 23 September 2010.

In the course of this session, the 22 members of the Committee examined the Secretariat Report on the follow-up to the recommendations adopted at the fifteenth session of the Committee on the activities carried out since 2009. Great satisfaction was expressed regarding the resolution of one of the cases pending before the Committee - the restitution of the Makonde Mask by the Barbier-Mueller Museum to the United Republic of Tanzania, which took place on 10th May 2010 in Paris. Moreover, Committee members met with representatives of the art market and have heard reports of UNESCO’s partners on their activities concerning the fight against illicit trafficking and the return and restitution of cultural property to its country of origin. Finally, the Committee adopted the Rules of procedure on mediation and conciliation.