French Culture Minister, Rachida Dati, presented a new law to the French cabinet on Wednesday aimed at simplifying the process of returning cultural property that was taken illegally between 1815 and 1972, during France’s colonial period. This move is part of a broader commitment by President Emmanuel Macron to return cultural heritage, first announced in 2017.
The bill seeks to streamline procedures for returning items that were stolen, looted, or taken with violence. Dati described the law as a "powerful act" for peace, recognizing memories, and improving relations with countries wronged during colonization.
While other European countries like Germany have made significant progress in returning cultural items, France has lagged behind, returning only a few objects since Macron's 2017 promise. The most recent return involved a sacred drum to the Ivory Coast, taken in 1916.
Previously, each return required a new law, which slowed the process. The new law would allow France to approve returns by decree, speeding up the process under certain conditions.
However, bureaucratic hurdles remain. The new law still requires a detailed review of each object, including scientific, historical, and legal studies to confirm its origin. The law also only covers items intended for public display and excludes military items, public archives, and items found in archaeological digs.
Some critics, including Senator Pierre Ouzoulias, have expressed concern that the government is rushing the process without proper oversight. Ouzoulias called for an independent body to ensure that restitutions are not used for political purposes. African nations, including Senegal, Chad, Ethiopia, and Algeria, have requested the return of thousands of objects.
The French Senate is set to vote on the bill on September 24th.