Morocco has taken proactive measures to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural goods, said Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, on Monday in Rabat. Speaking at the opening of an international conference on «The Role of Customs in the Fight Against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Goods», Bensaid emphasized that such items «are not merely artifacts or works of art, but living testimonies of successive civilizations, a collective memory of humanity, and invaluable treasures that symbolize human creativity and civilizational interaction over the centuries». «We have worked to strengthen our legal and regulatory framework in line with relevant international conventions, particularly the 1970 UNESCO Convention», he noted. The ministry has also ramped up efforts in digitization and the inventorying of cultural assets considered the first line of defense against theft and smuggling. He added that a new law has come into force, introducing key provisions aimed at curbing practices that threaten cultural heritage. On the operational front, Bensaid underlined the importance of «enhancing the capacities of security and judicial systems in investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of these crimes, in close collaboration with international security bodies and partner institutions». He also highlighted that numerous cultural restitution operations have been carried out in partnership with countries such as the United States and Chile. In the same vein, Bensaid pointed to several additional measures aimed at developing joint strategies and practical solutions, such as combating black markets, increasing oversight of art auctions, and launching initiatives to support affected countries in protecting their heritage and reclaiming stolen items. These efforts, he added, also involve harnessing new technologies, including artificial intelligence and blockchain, to trace and catalog cultural goods at their source. He stressed the importance of education and cultural engagement in raising awareness among younger generations about the protection of heritage.
