Addressing Challenges of Illicit Cultural Heritage Trafficking in Post-2011 Egypt

Abstract

Egypt is a country renowned for its immense diversity of cultural heritage which has always been struggling with the multivariate impacts of illicit trafficking of artifacts and cultural objects, illegal excavations, pillaging of archaeological sites, and destruction of historical monuments and buildings. The aftermath of the Egyptian revolutions of 2011 and 2013, represented in the political unrest, the unenforceable laws and regulations, the dispersal of the police forces and the lack of governmental funding, has ultimately exacerbated this threat. Despite the exerted governmental efforts in combating illicit trafficking of cultural property on national and international levels, theft, looting, and illegal export remain constant hazards. The major objective of this article is to address the different aspects of the current inherent challenges that impede the implementation of an effective strategy for protecting and safeguarding the Egyptian cultural heritage from illicit trafficking. Moreover, it clarifies the focal key actions for the adoption of safeguarding measures, procedures and standards, while highlighting the necessary precautions needed for achieving the optimal protection for the Egyptian cultural property.