Cultural heritage is far more than art or archaeology; it tells the story of who we are. When cultural property is stolen, looted, or trafficked, entire communities lose pieces of their identity, history, and future. Illicit trafficking often begins with theft or illegal excavations, crimes that not only damage the objects themselves but also erase the scientific, historical, and emotional knowledge they carry. 

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-launches-global-course-safeguard-cultural-property-illicit-trafficking