The ownership history of the Parthenon Sculptures in the British Museum hinges on interpretations of law and ethics. The political and moral conversation needed for their return to Athens will soon have the support of a new Charities Act of 2022 to complement the Charities Act of 2011. This legislation empowers the trustees of statutory charities such as national museums to deaccession property on ethical or moral grounds even without a legal obligation to do so. Loosening the strictures of national museum legislation and case law standing in the way of the restitution of looted artefacts to the country of origin is a welcome and significant development. It gives the British Museum the leeway necessary to return cultural property and heritage that had been stolen, looted, implicated in forced sales, or otherwise taken due to power imbalances that fostered unequal relationships.
Dr Christa Roodt is a BCRPM member and Senior Lecturer: History of Art, Research Integrity Advisor: School of Culture and Creative Arts, Deputy Dean Internationalisation: College of Arts
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