Paragraph 31 of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration puts culture in the driver’s seat towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs).
It calls for full recognition and protection of culture, with its intrinsic value, as a transformative driver and enabler for the achievement of SDGs.
The G20 leaders also reiterated their “commitment to strengthen the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property at national, regional or international levels” and to enable its return and restitution to their countries and communities of origin as relevant.
India had proposed “restitution of cultural heritage” as part of the G20 culture track agenda during India’s Presidency.
In fact, the subject has been among the main themes of the deliberations of the culture working group, through its four meetings – starting with Khajuraho in February, followed by Bhubaneswar in May, Hampi in July, and finally, the ministerial held last month in Varanasi.
