According to Catherine Pgard, the law on colonial restitutions is “awaited throughout the world”

The law aimed at facilitating the removal of colonial property from museum collections, the text of which is being examined in the National Assembly, “is expected in France and around the world”said Tuesday, April 7, the Minister of Culture, Catherine Pgard. “To measure the historical significance of this text, it is enough to note the interest it arouses beyond our borders. For many countries, this law appears as an outstretched hand, favoring the renewal and deepening of cultural and international ties.declared Catherine Pgard before the Cultural Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.

Promised in Ouagadougou in 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron, this bill intends to regulate and simplify the complex process of restitution of property acquired by France in a manner “illicit”often during the colonial period.

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Adopted by the Senate unanimously at the end of January

The text, “sets objective criteria as guarantees to protect the inalienable nature of public collections and precisely define the exceptions which may deviate from them, under the control of the Council of State”reminded the minister to the deputies. It aims to “allow states and peoples to reclaim fundamental elements of their cultural and historical heritage”she emphasized.

“These countries not only want to recover ill-gotten gains, but also to conserve, study and exhibit them. And it is the populations, and in particular the youngest, who will benefit above all”she added. Due to the principle of inalienability of public collections, the return of cultural objects to their country of origin could until then only be done piecemeal via specific laws.

Targeting property acquired between 1815 and 1972, this law could make it possible to process several requests already submitted by different countries, including Algeria, Mali and Benin.