The 2025 World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development is being held in Barcelona, Spain, from September 29 to October 1.
On September 29, UNESCO launched the world's first global virtual museum of stolen artifacts at the conference, aiming to strengthen international cooperation in the protection of cultural property and to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural assets.
UNESCO pointed out that the virtual museum of stolen artifacts utilizes innovative technologies such as 3D modeling and virtual reality to digitally reconstruct and display stolen cultural properties selected by UN member states. The platform also provides educational narratives and testimonies from affected communities to highlight the cultural and historical significance of these artifacts. The museum features a special gallery dedicated to showcasing successful restitution cases, further illustrating the importance of good practices and international cooperation in the return of artifacts.
This project is implemented in partnership with INTERPOL, and the virtual museum is designed by Francis, a Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate from Africa.
According to the museum’s official website, the museum currently displays more than 270 stolen artifacts from around the world, spanning from 2700 BC to the 20th century. These include ancient inscriptions and coins, architectural components, artworks, ritual and ceremonial items, furniture, musical instruments, rare books, manuscripts, and archives. The platform is now open for access to visitors worldwide.