Legal Mechanisms of Cultural Property Restitution in Peru: National and International Levels

Peru's shift from judicial to diplomatic-administrative mechanisms for cultural property restitution, exemplified by the Machu Picchu collection dispute with Yale University, highlights that international protective status alone does not ensure effective safeguarding without robust national frameworks. The study analyzes Peru's legal evolution, tracing key legislation from 1929 to 2004 and applying Massimo Severo Giannini's theory of split ownership to demonstrate the separation between physical possession and cultural value title. Using Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as a case study, it underscores the necessity for differentiated national mechanisms to complement international conventions like the 1970 UNESCO and 1995 UNIDROIT agreements.

Cherkashina, A. V. (2026). Legal Mechanisms of Cultural Property Restitution in Peru: National and International Levels. Теория И Практика Общественного Развития, (7), 203–208. https://doi.org/10.24158/tipor.2026.7.21