Western Museums Association 76th Annual Meeting
September 25, 2011
Hawai�i Convention Center Honolulu
Safeguarding the Past: An Exploration in the Illicit Trafficking of
Cultural Artifacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Erika Lehman, Membership Coordinator, Iolani Palace
Kevin Shimoda, Private Investigator, Office of the Inspector General
Marcellin Abong, Director, Vanuatu Cultural Centre
Kate Fitz Gibbon, Attorney and Author, Cultural Policy Research Institute
This session will look at the national and international laws surrounding the illegal trafficking of ancient / antique artifacts, with particular emphasis on those from indigenous and tribal communities of the Asia � Pacific region. Speakers will explore the motives surrounding illegal trafficking and trade of cultural artifacts as well as the means in which these illicit measures continue to thrive despite the presence of well defined laws and strict associated penalties. Panelists will further the discussion by examining several means of countering illegal trafficking of cultural artifacts as well as the hurdles museums and governing bodies face when attempting to reclaim lost artifacts.