Doha: Several officials in Qatar and the Arab world emphasized the need for international collaboration to reclaim antiquities, manuscripts, and cultural property illegally taken from their countries. On the occasion of the International Day Against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, which falls annually on November 14, officials shared exclusive statements with Qatar News Agency. They highlighted the necessity of addressing legislative challenges that hinder the recovery of these artifacts, stressing that the illicit trade in cultural property not only deprives communities of their history and culture but also weakens social cohesion and fuels organized crime. According to Qatar News Agency, the number of stolen works of art globally amounts to 52,000, with many unreported cases in various countries. Trafficking in cultural property ranks as the third-largest international criminal activity, trailing only drug and arms trafficking. Experts estimate the total illicit trade in cultural property may rea ch USD 10 billion annually, a figure that has increased over the past decade. Various Arab countries have experienced widespread looting of their antiquities for decades. Official statistics in Egypt indicate that over 32,000 antiquities have been stolen in the past 50 years. Yemen has lost more than 14,000 manuscripts, while Iraq has faced extensive thefts from archaeological sites and museums, alongside Sudan and Libya. HE Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to the State of Qatar, Rajeh Badi, noted Yemen's rich civilization and its significant inventory of antiquities and cultural properties. He highlighted that the ongoing war contributed to the trafficking of Yemeni antiquities, which harms not only Yemen's heritage but also that of the Arab nation and humanity. Efforts to recover artifacts have been partially successful, with some items returned from the US and Britain, but much remains lost. Dr. Zahi Hawass, an archaeologist and former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, stressed the importance of int ernational cooperation to combat illicit trafficking and recover stolen antiquities. He called for an international conference with UNESCO to amend laws that hinder the return of stolen cultural properties. Director-General of the Museums Department at the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage of Iraq, Lama Al Douri, emphasized the difficulties in counting stolen Iraqi antiquities due to random excavations. She underscored the need for greater international cooperation to reclaim smuggled cultural property and highlighted ongoing government efforts to recover artifacts both within and outside Iraq. Qatar National Library (QNL) plays a prominent role in preserving cultural heritage and combating illicit trafficking. Head of Preservation and Conservation at QNL, Maxim Nasra, explained the library's initiatives, including the Himaya project, which promotes regional and international cooperation to protect cultural heritage. He stressed the need for updated legislative frameworks and enhanced cooperat ion to prevent cultural property smuggling. Heritage and Rare Books Advisor at Qatar Foundation, Mohammed Hammam Fakri, noted the historical roots of illicit cultural property trade during wars and natural disasters. He urged cultural institutions to refrain from purchasing suspicious items and emphasized the importance of returning artifacts to their origins. UNESCO adopted the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property during its 40th General Conference in 2019 to draw attention to this crime and highlight the importance of international cooperation in combating it.