Convening with Purpose: The Cairo Declaration
Our Objective
Our team was tasked with addressing the critical issue of illicit antiquities trade, which was fueling terrorism, particularly during the Arab Spring in the Middle East. With historic sites such as the Pyramids in Egypt and Palmyra in Syria under grave threat, our goal was to build political will at the highest levels of government across the Middle East and North Africa to mobilize effective action against these crimes.
Our Approach
We built a coalition of partners to support a not-for-profit organization’s efforts to bring about concrete action against the illicit trade of antiquities. This initiative led to a Ministerial-level convening in Egypt, involving Antiquities Ministers, foreign ministries, and UNESCO. After extensive negotiations, the Cairo Declaration was issued, supported by all ten governments in attendance, promoting regional cooperation to combat this illegal trade.
Our Impact
The following year, we expanded our efforts by organizing a convening in Lebanon with 17 ministers in attendance, hosted by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister. This event resulted in the Amman Communique, further solidifying regional cooperation. These actions created a united front against the illicit trade in antiquities, demonstrating the power of collaborative international efforts in preserving cultural heritage.
