In a groundbreaking move to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property, UNESCO unveiled a virtual museum on Monday, showcasing hundreds of looted artefacts. The initiative aims to raise global awareness about the criminal trade that robs communities of their heritage. The digital platform, designed by acclaimed Burkina Faso-born architect Diebedo Francis Kere, features nearly 250 stolen items, including a Zambian ritual mask, a pendant from ancient Palmyra in Syria, and a painting by Swedish artist Anders Zorn. These objects, however, represent only a fraction of the estimated 57,000 items currently in circulation, according to Interpol’s database. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay emphasized the museum’s unique role in educating the public about the devastating impact of this trade, which erases cultural memory, disrupts generational links, and impedes scientific progress. The platform allows visitors to explore the artefacts through detailed stories, testimonies, and photos, tracing their origins and significance. Sunna Altnoder, head of UNESCO’s unit for combating illicit trafficking, highlighted the broader mission: to eventually close the museum as stolen items are recovered and returned to their rightful communities. The initiative also seeks to foster collaboration among law enforcement, the judiciary, the art market, member states, and civil society to dismantle the criminal networks driving this trade.