Jakarta, Oct. 1 -- Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon said on Wednesday that the repatriation of cultural artifacts is vital to restoring national dignity, citing the recent return of the Dubois Collection from the Netherlands as evidence of Jakarta's pursuit of historical justice and identity.

"Returning historical artifacts to their country of origin is crucial for restoring national dignity and reconnecting identity with future generations," Fadli said in a statement.

Speaking at UNESCO's Mondiacult 2025 global cultural forum in Barcelona, he said cultural rights must be guaranteed through public access, participation and community involvement in cultural governance.

Fadli noted that Indonesia's Constitution enshrines cultural ri...