Colombia Takes Global Lead on Cultural Heritage Restitution with International Forum
BOGOTÁ, Colombia – Colombia is spearheading a global conversation on the restitution and repatriation of cultural goods, hosting an international forum this week in Bogotá and San Agustín. The event, organized by the Colombian Foreign Ministry with support from the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC), positions Colombia as a leader in redefining restitution not as a symbolic gesture, but as a matter of justice.
The forum comes as Colombia has successfully repatriated 972 archaeological pieces in under three years through active cultural diplomacy with museums, governments, and multilateral organizations. This effort, a key policy of the current government of Change, has utilized diverse methods – including Navy ships, embassies, and even the presidential plane - to return these artifacts to the communities that rightfully own their history.
The installation of the event will be overseen by Ambassador Adriana Mendoza, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Saia Vergara, Vice Minister of Patrimonies, Memories and Cultural Governance of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge; and Eleonora Betancur, director of the APC-Colombia. The forum is free to attend, subject to capacity.
Colombia’s initiative aims to reshape how states approach the past and their responsibilities to the future, fostering a global movement recognizing the importance of returning cultural heritage to its origins.
