Joint Guidelines for Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts
On 14 October 2025, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, the Cultural Affairs Ministers of the Länder and the municipal umbrella organisations agreed on the “Joint Guidelines for Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts”. These Guidelines expand on the “Framework Principles for Dealing with Collections from Colonial Contexts” and aim primarily at public museums and collections and their governing bodies. In addition, they are intended to serve as a point of orientation for communities and countries of origin.
In particular these Guidelines focus on the following topics:
1. the principles governing the return of cultural property from colonial contexts;
2. dealing with human remains from colonial contexts;
3. international cooperation.
In line with this thematic differentiation, in the Guidelines address cultural property and human remains separately. A fundamental willingness to return cultural property is understood as a prerequisite for a dialogue based on partnership with the formerly colonised communities and an essential component of addressing colonialism and its repercussions. With regard to human remains from colonial contexts, an unconditional readiness for repatriation is affirmed in the Guidelines. In the examination of collections from colonial contexts, human remains continue to have priority over cultural objects.
Cultural property acquired in a legally or ethically unacceptable manner is to be returned if so desired by the country and community of origin. Human remains from colonial contexts are to be repatriated if so desired by the countries and communities concerned. A contact point with the handling of human remains will be established at the German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts. In addition, an interdisciplinary and international network of experts will be established to provide guidance and foster a sustained dialogue process. This network will, in particular, include representatives of communities of origin. Recommendations for a dialogue process are currently being developed.
Joint Guidelines
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Joint Guidelines for Dealing with Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts |
Minutes of the Discussions
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Discussion with Representatives from Museums 17th January 2024 |
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1st Discussion of Civil Society Initiatives 23rd January 2024 |
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Discussion with Experts in the Field of Human Remains from Colonial Contexts 30th January 2024 |
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2nd Discussion of Civil Society Initiatives 21st February 2024 |
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Discussion with International Experts 12th March 2024 |