As the Middle East’s incredibly rich heritage is systematically plundered and sold off to fetch millions, Tasoula Hadjitofi, a refugee and the founder of the organization “Walk of Truth,” explores what can be done to prevent and combat this illicit trade. What can we in the west do to protect the history and identity of an entire people from wholesale looting and acts of barbarism? In her work, Hadjitofi urges the world to recognize looting and destruction of cultural heritage as a crime against humanity. She calls for better coordination of laws and law enforcement, and seeks closer cooperation with the art trade. In this talk, Hadjitofi shared the lessons learned from her own experience of tracking and repatriating antiquities looted from Cyprus, explored how cultural heritage can contribute to peace and reconciliation in former conflict zones, and revealed Walk of Truth’s ambitious plans to fight the illegal trade in stolen art by engaging the public.
Source: https://bit.ly/2QmY7gR