News
A Tzantza Restituted to Ecuador
The restitution of this human relic was carried out in the hands of the Permanent Delegation of Ecuador to UNESCO, in the presence of UNESCO鈥檚 Assistant Director-General for Culture, the Permanent Delegate of Switzerland to UNESCO, and Professor Marc-Andr茅 Renold, creator of the Platform for Cultural Heritage Diplomacy at the University of Geneva.
The Tzantza was in the possession of a Swiss family who, after learning about its origin and cultural significance, initiated its voluntary restitution with the support of the University of Geneva鈥檚 Platform for Cultural Heritage Diplomacy. Thanks to UNESCO's support, a scientific examination by the University Center for Legal Medicine (Lausanne-Geneva) confirmed the human origin of the Tzantza, an authentic artifact of the Shuar or Achuar peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
This return is an inspiring example of voluntary restitution and multilateral cooperation in line with the principles of the 1970 UNESCO Convention. Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone R. 鈥淯NESCO is proud to have facilitated the dialogue between the parties and supported the scientific research that made this possible.
The restitution was formalized by the signing of an agreement between the Ecuadorian delegation and the Swiss family, represented by Professor Marc-Andr茅 Renold, who also co-holds the UNESCO Chair in International Law for the Protection of Cultural Property at the University of Geneva.
Thanks to this successful example of dialogue and cooperation, a new chapter opens for this unique piece of Ecuador鈥檚 history and cultural identity.
This restitution is the result of close and fruitful collaboration between UNESCO, Switzerland, the University of Geneva, and Ecuador, allowing for the reconstruction and deeper understanding of the rich culture, values, and worldview of Ecuador's Indigenous peoples.
The true value of a cultural object can only be appreciated in relation to its original context and traditional setting. Today, we honor a gesture of goodwill by a Swiss family and recognize the importance of preserving cultural heritage鈥攏ot only for Ecuador but for humanity as a whole.
I am pleased that the Platform for Cultural Heritage Diplomacy at the University of Geneva was able to initiate and carry this restitution through to completion. I am grateful to the Swiss family returning the Tzantza to Ecuador, as well as to the researchers from my country who confirmed its authenticity and provenance.
Ecuador and Switzerland are signatories to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, which for 55 years has worked to promote cooperation, concrete measures, and awareness among States Parties, UNESCO, and its partners.
This restitution highlights the importance of the 1970 Convention and of returning cultural heritage to its State or community of origin.
