According to ENA, which is a partner of TV BRICS, UNESCO further reiterated that it was firmly committed to the restitution of African cultural heritage, and that the return of displaced cultural property was a cultural right, historical justice, and an important part of the identities of people.  

This was emphasised at a round table of high-level officials in Addis Ababa on the topics of restitution, cultural rights and the right to memory and the presence of experts, authorities and representatives of civil society in Africa and Latin America.

The participants highlighted the idea that restitution is to be regarded as a basic right, which is directly connected to historical memory, cultural identity, and restorative justice. The negotiations took the form of the African regulatory frameworks, the UNESCO conventions and the general principles of international law on the safeguarding of cultural heritage.

Privy to the agreement between UNESCO representatives of Morocco and Ethiopia, culture is a pillar of sovereignty; a pillar of social cohesion and development; and enhancing its protection and restitution are the keys to the future of the continent.