Repatriation of Ancestral Remains - International provisions

Indigenous remains and sacred materials found their way into overseas institutions and individual collections through the long history of invasion and takeover of Indigenous peoples and their property. There are two major policies that cover the handling of these collections.

UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage

The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (the World Heritage Convention) was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. To date, more than 170 countries have adhered to the Convention.

The Convention aims to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of earth’s cultural and natural heritage, including sites with archaeological, scientific, ethnological, or anthropological value.

UK. Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums

In 2004, the British Government passed the Human Tissues Act, which for there first time allows museums in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to release the remains in their collections. The July 2004 consultation, Care of Historic Human Remains, showed widespread support within the museum sector for guidance on the issue and the publication ‘A Guide for the Care of Human Remains in Museums’ was consequently published in 2005.