Washington, DC - Beginning this week, the U.S. Department of State is hosting fifteen officials from the Middle East and North Africa region as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to explore strategies that prevent the destruction, looting, and trafficking of cultural heritage. With the ongoing threat to archaeological heritage around the world, the program provides opportunities for the creation of partnerships and networks with U.S. museums, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, U.S. law enforcement agencies, and other entities that protect and preserve cultural property.

The program runs from July 9-30, 2016.

These exchange program participants will begin their visit in Washington, D.C., and then continue on to Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico; Santa Fe, New Mexico; St. Louis, Missouri; and New York, New York. In these locales, the participants will deepen their understanding of U.S. laws and legal mechanisms to prevent smuggling of artifacts into the United States and examine U.S. theory, practice, and application of new technologies in the area of cultural heritage protection. Meetings and site visits will also highlight advocacy methods used by public and private entities to raise awareness of conflict antiquities domestically and overseas.