Re-uniting Pacific treasures

Museums in small islands states in the Pacific face common issues such as emergency response to Tsunamis, cyclones, earthquakes, fires, and floods, human rsorces development, economic viability and sustainable management, educational programmes and community outreach.  Pacific Islands Museum Association (PIMA), a regional organisation of museums and cultural centers in the Pacific islands countries, provides a forum where such issues are presented and solutions are discussed within the framework of PIMA Strategic Plan (2009-2013).

The Virtual Gallery launched by PIMA in 2011 with support of UNESCO is an attempt to connect cultural properties from the Pacific islands countries kept in museums within and outside the region. It intends to be an long-term platform which receive inputs to grow as a tool for knowledge management and dialogue. 

Fight against Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property

In the Pacific, besides cultural objects housed and exhibited at museums and cultural centers, a large number of cultural objects remain in villages and in the care of creators and original owners.  UNESCO assists national authorities in drafting and updating national policyand legislations on the protection of cultural heritage and the establishment of national inventories.  Capacity building of Pacific islands museums, cultural experts and customs officers to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural properties are supported in cooperation with specialized agencies and experts. 

Further, UNESCO promotes the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property as well as the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen and Illicitly Exported Cultural Objects through awareness-raising and regional seminars.