ICOM Code of

Ethics
for Museums

ICOM CO E O E IC
O M E M
he cor ersto e of ICOM is the ICOM Code of Ethics for
Museums It sets mi imum st d rds of rofessio
r ctice
d erform ce for museums d their st ff I oi i the
or is tio ICOM mem ers u dert e to
ide
this Code
Ethic issues th t re uire the tte tio
d or co sider tio of
the ICOM Ethics Committee m
e ddressed to its Ch ir
e m i ethics icom museum

he ICOM Code of Professional Ethics s do ted u imous

the th
e er
ssem of ICOM i ue os ires r e ti o
o em er
It s me ded the th e er
ssem i
rce o
i
o
u
retit ed ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums d re ised
st
the
e er
ssem i eou e u ic of ore o Octo er
ICOM
I

II

III

E M E

t tus of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums

he ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums h s ee re red
the I ter tio
Cou ci of Museums It is the st teme t of ethics for museums referred to i the
ICOM t tutes he Code ref ects ri ci es e er
cce ted the i ter tio
museum commu it Mem ershi i ICOM d the
me t of the
u su scri
tio to ICOM re
ffirm tio of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums

Mi imum t d rd for Museums

he ICOM Code re rese ts mi imum st d rd for museums It is rese ted s
series of ri ci es su orted
uide i es for desir e rofessio
r ctice I some
cou tries cert i mi imum st d rds re defi ed
or o er me t re u tio
I others uid ce o
d ssessme t of mi imum rofessio
st d rds m
e
i e i the form of ccredit tio
e istr tio or simi r e u ti e schemes
here such st d rds re ot defi ed uid ce c
e o t i ed throu h the ICOM
ecret ri t re e t
tio Committee of ICOM or the
ro ri te I ter tio
Committee of ICOM It is so i te ded th t i di idu
tio s d the s eci ised
su ect or is tio s co ected ith museums shou d use this Code s
sis for
de e o i
dditio st d rds

r s tio s of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums

he ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums is u ished i the three offici
u es
of the or is tio E ish re ch d
ish ICOM e comes the tr s tio of
the Code i to other
u es o e er tr s tio i e re rded s offici
o if it is e dorsed
t e st o e
tio Committee of cou tr i hich the
u e is s o e orm
s the first
u e here the
u e is s o e
i more th o e cou tr it is refer e th t the
tio
Committees of these
cou tries so e co su ted tte tio is dr
to the eed for i uistic s e s
rofessio museum e ertise i ro idi offici tr s tio s he
u e ersio
used for tr s tio
d the mes of the tio Committees i o ed shou d e
i dic ted hese co ditio s do ot restrict tr s tio s of the Code or rts of it for
use i educ tio
or or for stud ur oses

E O CO

E
ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums

Museums reser e i ter ret d romote the

cu tur i herit ce of hum it
I stitutio st di
h sic resources
i ci resources
erso e

Museums th t m i t i co ectio s ho d them i trust for the

e efit of societ
d its de e o me t
c uiri co ectio s
emo i co ectio s
C re of co ectio s

Museums ho d rim r e ide ce for est

furtheri
o ed e
rim r e ide ce
Museum co ecti
rese rch

ishi

Museums ro ide o ortu ities for the

u derst di
dm
eme t of the
herit e
is
d e hi itio
Other resources

reci tio
tur
d cu tur

Museums ho d resources th t ro ide o

u ic ser ices d e efits
Ide tific tio ser ices

ortu ities for other

Museums or i c ose co or tio ith the commu ities

from hich their co ectio s ori i te s e s those the
ser e
Ori i of co ectio s
es ect for commu ities ser ed

Museums o er te i
e fr me or

Museums o er te i
rofessio co duct
Co f icts of i terest

oss r

rofessio

er
m

er

tur

M E M

E E E I E E
OMO E E
C
I E I
CE O
M I

ri ci e
Museums re res o si e for the t i e
d i
herit e o er i
odies d those co cer ed
o ersi ht of museums h e
rim r res o si iit
herit e s e s the hum
h sic
d fi ci
th t ur ose

IO
E

I
i

he o er i
museum h s
tutio st tute
ccord ce
c e r st tes
missio erm

ocume t tio
od shoud e sure th t the
ritte
d u ished co sti
or other u ic docume t i
ith
tio
s
hich
the museum s e
st tus
e ce d o rofit ture

t teme t of the Missio

O ecti es d o icies
he o er i
od shou d re re
u icise d e uided
st teme t of
the missio o ecti es d o icies of the
museum d of the ro e d com ositio
of the o er i
od

IC

t i e
tur
d cu tur
ith the str te ic directio
d
to rotect d romote this
resources m de
i e for

E O CE
remises

he o er i
od shou d e sure
de u te remises
ith
suit e
e iro me t for the museum to fu fi the
sic fu ctio s defi ed i its missio

ccess
he o er i
od shou d e sure th t the
museum d its co ectio s re
i e
to duri re so
e hours d for re
u r eriods rticu r re rd shou d e
i e to those erso s ith s eci eeds

e th

fet

he o er i
od shou d e sure th t
i stitutio
st d rds of he th s fet
d ccessi iit
to its erso e
d isitors

rotectio

i st is sters

he o er i
od shou d de e o
d
m i t i
o icies to rotect the u ic
d erso e the co ectio s d other
resources
i st
tur
d hum
m de dis sters

ecurit

e uireme ts

he

o er i
od shou d e sure
ro ri te securit to rotect co ectio s
i st theft or d m e i dis
s e hi i
tio s or i or stor e re s d hi e
i tr sit

I sur ce

d I dem it

here commerci i sur ce is used for

co ectio s the o er i
od shou d
e sure th t such co er is de u te d
i c udes o ects i tr sit or o o
d
other items th t re the res o si iit of
the museum he
i dem it scheme
is i use it is ecess r th t m teri ot i
the o ershi of the museum e de u
te co ered

CI

E O CE
u di

he o er i
od shou d e sure th t
there re sufficie t fu ds to c rr out d
de e o the cti ities of the museum
fu ds must e ccou ted for i
rofes
sio m er

I come e er ti

o ic

he o er i
od shou d h e
ritte
o ic re rdi sources of i come th t it
m
e er te throu h its cti ities or c
ce t from outside sources e rd ess of
fu di source museums shou d m i t i
co tro of the co te t d i te rit of their
ro r mmes e hi itio s
d cti ities
I come e er ti
cti ities shou d ot
com romise the st d rds of the i stitutio
or its u ic ee

E O

E
Em o me t o ic

he o er i
od shou d e sure th t
ctio co cer i
erso e is t e
i ccord ce ith the o icies of the
museum s e s the ro er d e
rocedures

or e d

oi tme t of the irector

he director or he d of the museum is

e ost d he m i
oi t
me t o er i
odies shou d h e re
rd for the o ed e d s i s re uired
to fi the ost effecti e
hese u ities
shou d i c ude de u te i te ectu
iit
d rofessio
o ed e com eme
ted
hi h st d rd of ethic co duct

ccess to

o er i

odies

he director or he d of museum shou d

e direct res o si e
d h e direct
ccess to the re e t o er i
odies

Com ete ce of Museum

erso e
he em o me t of u ified erso e
ith the e ertise re uired to meet res
o si iities is ecess r
ee so
sectio

r ii

of erso e

de u te o ortu ities for the co ti ui

educ tio
d rofessio
de e o me t
of museum erso e shou d e rr
ed to m i t i
effecti e or force

Ethic Co f ict
he o er i
od shou d e er re uire
museum erso e to ct i
th t
cou d e co sidered to co f ict ith the
ro isio s of this Code of Ethics or
tio
or s eci ist code of ethics

Museum erso e
o u teers

he o er i
od shou d h e
ritte
o ic o o u teer or th t romotes
ositi e re tio shi et ee o u teers
d mem ers of the museum rofessio

o u teers

d Ethics

he o er i
od shou d e sure th t
o u teers he co ducti museum d
erso
cti ities re fu co ers t
ith the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums
d other
ic e codes d
s

M E M
M I
I CO EC IO
O
E E E I O OCIE
I

O
EM I
E E O ME

ri ci e
Museums h e the dut to c uire reser e d romote their co ectio s s co tri
utio to s fe u rdi the tur cu tur
d scie tific herit e heir co ectio s re
si ific t u ic i herit ce h e s eci
ositio i
d re rotected
i ter tio
e is tio I here t i this u ic trust is the otio of ste rdshi th t
i c udes ri htfu o ershi erm e ce docume t tio ccessi iit
d res o si e
dis os

I I

CO EC IO

Co ectio s o ic
he o er i
od for e ch museum
shou d do t d u ish
ritte co ec
tio s o ic th t ddresses the c uisitio
c re d use of co ectio s he o ic
shou d c rif the ositio of
m teri
th t i ot e c t o ued co ser ed or
e hi ited ee

id it e
o o ect or s ecime shou d e c ui
red
urch se ift o
e uest or
e ch e u ess the c uiri museum is
s tisfied th t
id tit e is he d E ide ce
of
fu o ershi i cou tr is ot e
cess ri
id tit e

ro e
ii e ce

ce

d ue

E er effort must e m de efore c uisi

tio to e sure th t
o ect or s ecime
offered for urch se ift o
e uest or
e ch e h s ot ee i e
o t i ed
i or e orted from its cou tr of ori i or
i termedi te cou tr i hich it mi ht
h e ee o ed e
i c udi the
museum s o cou tr
ue dii e ce i
this re rd shou d est ish the fu histor
of the item si ce disco er or roductio

O ects d ecime s
from
uthorised or scie tific
ie d or
Museums shou d ot c uire o ects
here there is re so
e c use to e
ie e their reco er i o ed u uthorised
or u scie tific fie d or or i te tio
destructio or d m e of mo ume ts
rch eo o ic or eo o ic sites or of
s ecies d tur h it ts I the s me
c uisitio shou d ot occur if there
h s ee
f iure to disc ose the fi ds to
the o er or occu ier of the
d or to
the ro er e or o er me t uthorities

Cu tur

e siti e M teri

Co ectio s of hum rem i s d m te

ri of s cred si ific ce shou d e c ui
red o if the c
e housed secure
d c red for res ectfu
his must e
ccom ished i
m er co siste t ith
rofessio
st d rds d the i terests
d e iefs of mem ers of the commu
it eth ic or re i ious rou s from hich
the o ects ori i ted here these re
o
ee so

rotected io o ic or
eo o ic
ecime s
Museums shou d ot c uire
or eo o ic s ecime s th t h
co ected so d or other ise tr
i co tr e tio of oc
tio
or i ter tio
or tre t
to i d ife rotectio or
tur
co ser tio

i i

io o ic
e ee
sferred
re io
re ti
histor

Co ectio s

he the co ectio s i c ude i e ot ic

or oo o ic s ecime s s eci co side
r tio shou d e i e to the tur
d
soci e iro me t from hich the re
deri ed s e s
oc
tio
re io
or i ter tio
or tre t
re ti to i d ife rotectio or tur
histor co ser tio

or s t
e efit ift from mem ers of
o er i
odies museum erso e or
the f miies d c ose ssoci tes of these
erso s

e ositories of

st esort

othi i this Code of Ethics shou d re e t

museum from cti
s
uthorised
re ositor for u ro e
ced i icit
co ected or reco ered s ecime s or o ects
from the territor o er hich it h s
fu
res o si iit

EMO I
e
is os

CO EC IO
or Other o ers of

he co ectio s o ic m i c ude s eci

co sider tio s for cert i t es of or
i co ectio s here the em h sis is o
reser i cu tur scie tific or tech ic
rocess r ther th the o ect or here
o ects or s ecime s re ssem ed for
re u r h d i
d te chi
ur oses
ee so

here the museum h s e

o ers er
mitti dis os s or h s c uired o ects
su ect to co ditio s of dis os the e
or other re uireme ts
d rocedures
must e com ied ith fu
here the
ori i
c uisitio
s su ect to m d
tor or other restrictio s these co ditio s
must e o ser ed u ess it c
e sho
c e r th t d here ce to such restrictio s
is im ossi e or su st ti
detrime t to
the i stitutio
d if
ro ri te re ief
m
e sou ht throu h e
rocedures

c uisitio Outside
Co ectio s o ic

e ccessio i from
Museum Co ectio s

he c uisitio of o ects or s ecime s

outside the museum s st ted o ic shou d
o
e m de i e ce tio circumst ces
he o er i
od shou d co sider the
rofessio
o i io s
i e to it d
the ie s of
i terested rties Co si
der tio i i c ude the si ific ce of the
o ect or s ecime i c udi its co te t i
the cu tur or tur herit e
d the
s eci i terests of other museums co ec
ti such m teri
o e er e e i these
circumst ces o ects ithout
id tit e
shou d ot e c uired ee so

he remo
of
o ect or s ecime
from museum co ectio must o
e
u dert e
ith fu u derst di of
the si ific ce of the item its ch r cter
hether re e
e or o re e
e
e st di
d
oss of u ic trust
th t mi ht resu t from such ctio

or i

Co ectio s

c uisitio s Offered
Mem ers of the o er i
or Museum erso e

od

eci c re is re uired i co sideri

item hether for s e s do tio

es o si iit for
e ccessio i
he decisio to de ccessio shou d e the
res o si iit of the o er i
od c
ti i co u ctio ith the director of the
museum d the cur tor of the co ectio
co cer ed
eci
rr eme ts m
to or i co ectio s ee

is os of O ects
emo ed from the Co ectio s
E ch museum shou d h e
o ic defi
i
uthorised methods for erm e t
remo i
o ect from the co ectio s
throu h do tio tr sfer e ch e
s e re tri tio or destructio
d th t
o s the tr sfer of u restricted tit e to
recei i
e c Com ete records
must e e t of
de ccessio i deci
sio s the o ects i o ed d the dis o
s of the o ect here i e stro
resum tio th t de ccessio ed item
shou d first e offered to other museum

I come from is os of
Co ectio s
Museum co ectio s re he d i u ic trust
dm
ot e tre ted s re is e
sset Mo e or com e s tio recei ed
from the de ccessio i
d dis os of
o ects d s ecime s from
museum
co ectio shou d e used so e for the
e efit of the co ectio
d usu
for
c uisitio s to th t s me co ectio

urch se of e ccessio ed
Co ectio s
Museum erso e the o er i
od
or their f miies or c ose ssoci tes shou d
ot e ermitted to urch se o ects th t
h e ee de ccessio ed from co ec
tio for hich the re res o si e

E O CO EC IO
Co ectio Co ti uit
he museum shou d est ish d
o icies to e sure th t its co ectio s oth
erm e t
d tem or r
d sso
ci ted i form tio
ro er recorded
re
i e for curre t use d i e
ssed o to future e er tio s i s
ood d s fe co ditio s r ctic e
h i re rd to curre t o ed e d
resources

e e tio of Co ectio
es o si iit
rofessio
res o si iities i o i the
c re of the co ectio s shou d e ssi ed

to erso s ith
ro ri te o ed e
d s i or ho re de u te su er i
sed ee so

ocume t tio of
Co ectio s
Museum co ectio s shou d e docume
ted ccordi to cce ted rofessio
st d rds uch docume t tio shou d i
c ude fu ide tific tio
d descri tio
of e ch item its ssoci tio s ro e ce
co ditio tre tme t d rese t oc tio
uch d t shou d e e t i
secure e
iro me t d e su orted
retrie
s stems ro idi
ccess to the i form
tio
the museum erso e
d other
e itim te users

rotectio
is sters

i st

C refu tte tio shou d e i e to the

de e o me t of o icies to rotect the co
ectio s duri
rmed co f ict d other
hum m de or tur dis sters

ecurit of Co ectio
ssoci ted t

he museum shou d e ercise co tro to

oid disc osi
se siti e erso
or
re ted i form tio
d other co fide
ti m tters he co ectio d t is m de
i e to the u ic

re e ti e Co ser tio
re e ti e co ser tio is
im ort t
e eme t of museum o ic
d co ec
tio s c re It is
esse ti res o si iit
of mem ers of the museum rofessio to
cre te d m i t i
rotecti e e i
ro me t for the co ectio s i their c re
hether i store o dis
or i tr sit

Co ectio Co ser tio

d estor tio
he museum shou d c refu mo itor the
co ditio of co ectio s to determi e he
o ect or s ecime m re uire co ser
tio restor tio or
d the ser ices
of
u ified co ser tor restorer he
ri ci
o shou d e the st iis tio
of the o ect or s ecime
co ser tio

rocedures shou d e docume ted d s

re ersi e s ossi e d
ter tio s
shou d e c e r disti uish e from the
ori i o ect or s ecime

e f re of i e
museum th t m i t
shou d ssume fu res
he th d e ei
d im eme t s fet
tectio of its erso e
s of the im s th t

im s

i s i i
im s
o si iit for their
It shou d re re
code for the ro
d isitors s e
h s ee
ro

M E M O
E I

ed
e ert i the eteri r fie d
e etic modific tio shou d e c e r
ide tifi e

erso
Co ectio s

se of Museum

Museum erso e the o er i

od
their f miies c ose ssoci tes or others
shou d ot e ermitted to e ro ri te
items from the museum co ectio s e e
tem or ri for
erso use

IM
E I E CE O E
O E E

I I

ri ci e
Museums h e
rticu r res o si iities to
for the c re ccessi iit
i ter ret tio of rim r e ide ce co ected d he d i their co ectio s

IM

E I E CE

Co ectio s s rim r
E ide ce
he museum co ectio s o ic shou d i di
c te c e r the si ific ce of co ectio s
s rim r e ide ce he o ic shou d ot
e o er ed o
curre t i te ectu
tre ds or rese t museum us e

iit of Co ectio s

Museums h e
rticu r res o si iit
for m i co ectio s d re e t i
form tio
i e s free s ossi e
h i re rd to restr i ts risi for re
so s of co fide ti it
d securit

M E M CO EC I

E E

ie d Co ecti
Museums u dert i
fie d co ecti
shou d de e o
o icies co siste t ith

c demic st d rds d
ic e
tio
d i ter tio
s d tre t
o i tio s ie d or shou d o
e
u dert e
ith res ect d co sider
tio for the ie s of oc commu ities
their e iro me t resources d cu tur
r ctices s e s efforts to e h ce the
cu tur
d tur herit e

E ce tio Co ecti
rim r E ide ce

of

I e ce tio c ses
item ithout ro
e ce m
h e such
i here t
outst di
co tri utio to
o ed e
th t it ou d e i the u ic i terest to
reser e it he cce t ce of such
item i to museum co ectio shou d e
the su ect of decisio
s eci ists i
the disci i e co cer ed d ithout tio
or i ter tio
re udice ee so

ese rch
ese rch
museum erso e shou d
re te to the museum s missio
d o
ecti es d co form to est ished e
ethic
d c demic r ctices

estructi e

sis

he destructi e
tic tech i ues
re u dert e
com ete record of the
m teri
sed the outcome of the
sis d the resu ti rese rch i c u
di
u ic tio s shou d ecome
rt of
the erm e t record of the o ect

um
em i s d
M teri s of cred i ific ce
ese rch o hum rem i s d m teri s
of s cred si ific ce must e ccom
ished i m er co siste t ith rofes
sio st d rds d t e i to ccou t the
i terests d e iefs of the commu it eth ic
or re i ious rou s from hom the o ects
ori i ted here these re o
ee
so

ete tio of i hts to

ese rch M teri s
he museum erso e re re m teri
for rese t tio or to docume t fie d i es
ti tio there must e c e r reeme t

ith the s o sori museum re

ri hts to such or

rdi

h red E ertise
Mem ers of the museum rofessio h e
o i tio to sh re their o ed e
d e erie ce ith co e ues scho
rs d stude ts i re e t fie ds he
shou d res ect d c o ed e those
from hom the h e e r ed d shou d
ss o such d ceme ts i tech i ues
d e erie ce th t m
e of e efit to
others

Co o er tio et ee
Museums d Other I stitutio s
Museum erso e shou d c o ed e
d e dorse the eed for coo er tio
d co su t tio et ee i stitutio s ith
simi r i terests d co ecti
r ctices
his is
rticu r so ith i stitutes of
hi her educ tio
d cert i u ic utiities
here rese rch m
e er te im ort t
co ectio s for hich there is o o term
securit

M E M
ECI IO
O
E

O I EO O
E
I
C

I IE

O
M
E I
E

E
EME

ri ci e
Museums h e
im ort t dut to de e o their educ tio
ro e d ttr ct
ider udie ces from the commu it oc it or rou the ser e I ter ctio ith
the co stitue t commu it
d romotio of their herit e is
i te r
rt of the
educ tio ro e of the museum

E
eci

is

I I IO
s E hi itio s
cti ities

is
s d tem or r e hi itio s h si
c or e ectro ic shoud e i ccord ce
ith the st ted missio o ic
d ur ose
of the museum he shoud ot com romise
either the u it or the ro er c re d
co ser tio of the co ectio s

I ter ret tio of E hi itio s

Museums shou d e sure th t the i form
tio the rese t i dis
s d e hi i
tio s is e fou ded ccur te d i es
ro ri te co sider tio to re rese ted
rou s or e iefs

E hi itio of e siti e
M teri s
um rem i s d m teri s of s cred
si ific ce must e dis
ed i
m
er co siste t ith rofessio st d rds
d here o t i i to ccou t the
i terests d e iefs of mem ers of the
commu it eth ic or re i ious rou s from
hom the o ects ori i ted he must
e rese ted ith re t t ct d res ect
for the fee i s of hum di it he d
eo es

emo

from u ic is

e uests for remo from u ic dis

of hum rem i s or m teri of s cred si
ific ce from the ori i ti commu ities

must e ddressed e editious

ith res
ect d se siti it e uests for the retur
of such m teri shoud e ddressed simi
r Museum o icies shoud c e r defi e
the rocess for res o di to such re uests

is
M teri

of

ro e

ced

Museums shou d
oid dis
i
or
other ise usi m teri of uestio
e
ori i or c i
ro e ce he shou d
e
re th t such dis
s or us e c
e see to co do e d co tri ute to the
i icit tr de i cu tur ro ert

O E

E O CE
u ic tio

I form tio
u ished
museums
h te er me s shou d e e fou ded
ccur te d i e res o si e co sider
tio to the c demic disci i es societies
or e iefs rese ted Museum u ic tio s
shou d ot com romise the st d rds of
the i stitutio

e roductio s
Museums shou d res ect the i te rit of
the ori i
he re ic s re roductio s
or co ies of items i the co ectio re
m de
such co ies shou d e erm
e t m r ed s f csimi es

M E M O
E O CE
O I E
O O
I IE O O E
IC E ICE

E EI

ri ci e
Museums utiise
ide riet of s eci isms s i s d h sic resources th t h e
f r ro der
ic tio th i the museum his m e d to sh red resources or
the ro isio of ser ices s
e te sio of the museum s cti ities hese shou d e
or ised i such
th t the do ot com romise the museum s st ted missio

I E I IC IO
I icit

E ICE

Ide tific tio of I e

c uired O ects

or

here museums ro ide

ide tific tio
ser ice the shou d ot ct i
th t cou d e re rded s e efiti
from such cti it direct or i direct
he ide tific tio
d uthe tic tio of
o ects th t re e ie ed or sus ected
to h e ee i e
or i icit
c uired
tr sferred im orted or e orted shou d
ot e m de u ic u ti the
ro ri te
uthorities h e ee otified

uthe tic tio

r is

u tio

u tio s m
e m de for the ur oses
of i sur ce of museum co ectio s O i
io s o the mo et r
ue of other
o ects shou d o
e i e o offici
re uest from other museums or com ete t
e
o er me t or other res o si e
u ic uthorities o e er
he the
museum itse f m
e the e efici r
r is of
o ect or s ecime must e
u dert e i de e de t

M E M
O I C O E CO
O IO
COMM I IE
OM
IC
EI CO EC IO
O I I
E
E
O E E E E

ri ci e
Museum co ectio s ref ect the cu tur
hich the h e ee deri ed s such
r ro ert
hich m i c ude stro
re i ious or o itic ide tit It is im ort
to this situ tio

O I I O CO EC IO
Co o er tio
Museums shou d romote the sh ri of
o ed e docume t tio
d co ec
tio s ith museums d cu tur or i
s tio s i the cou tries d commu ities
of ori i
he ossi iit of de e o i
rt ershi s ith museums i cou tries or
re s th t h e ost si ific t rt of
their herit e shou d e e ored

etur of Cu tur

ro ert

Museums shou d e re red to i iti te

di o ues for the retur of cu tur
ro
ert to cou tr or eo e of ori i
his shou d e u dert e i
im rti
m er
sed o scie tific rofessio
d hum it ri
ri ci es s e s
ic e oc
tio
d i ter tio
e is tio i refere ce to ctio t
o er me t or o itic e e

estitutio of Cu tur

ro ert

he cou tr or eo e of ori i see s

the restitutio of
o ect or s ecime
th t c
e demo str ted to h e ee
e orted or other ise tr sferred i io
tio of the ri ci es of i ter tio
d
tio
co e tio s
d sho
to e
rt of th t cou tr s or eo e s cu tur
or tur herit e the museum co cer
ed shou d if e
free to do so t e

d tur herit e of the commu ities from

the h e ch r cter e o d th t of ordi
ffi ities ith tio
re io
oc eth ic
t therefore th t museum o ic is res o si e

rom t d res o si e ste s to coo e

r te i its retur

Cu tur O ects from

Occu ied Cou tr
Museums shou d st i from urch si
or c uiri cu tur o ects from
oc
cu ied territor
d res ect fu
s
d co e tio s th t re u te the im ort
e ort d tr sfer of cu tur or tur
m teri s

E EC

O COMM

I IE

E E

Co tem or r Commu ities

here museum cti ities i o e
co tem or r commu it or its herit e
c uisitio s shou d o
e m de sed
o i formed d mutu co se t ithout
e oit tio of the o er or i form ts
es ect for the ishes of the commu it
i o ed shou d e r mou t

u di
cti ities

of Commu it

he see i fu ds for cti ities i o i

co tem or r commu ities their i terests
shou d ot e com romised ee

se of Co ectio s from
Co tem or r Commu ities

u orti
the Commu it

Museum us e of co ectio s from co tem

or r commu ities re uires res ect for
hum
di it
d the tr ditio s
d
cu tures th t use such m teri
uch co
ectio s shou d e used to romote hum
e ei soci de e o me t to er ce
d res ect
d oc ti
mu tisoci
mu ticu tur
d mu tii u e ressio
ee

Museums shou d cre te

f our e
e iro me t for commu it su ort e
rie ds of Museums d other su orti
or is tio s reco ise their co tri utio
d romote
h rmo ious re tio shi
et ee the commu it
d museum er
so e

M E M O E

EI

Or

is tio s i

ri ci e
Museums must co form fu to i ter tio
re io
tio
d oc e is tio
d tre t o i tio s I dditio the o er i
od shou d com
ith
e
i di trusts or co ditio s re ti to
s ect of the museum its co ectio s d
o er tio s

ME O
tio

d oc

e is tio

Museums shou d co form to

tio
d oc
s d res ect the e is tio
of other st tes s the ffect their o e
r tio

I ter tio

e is tio

Museum o ic shou d c o ed e the

fo o i i ter tio
e is tio th t is
t e s st d rd i i ter reti the
ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums
Convention for the Protection of Cultural
Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
he
ue Co e tio
irst rotoco
d eco d rotoco
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting

and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export

and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural
Property
E CO
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora
shi to
Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Stolen and Illicitly Exported Cultural Objects
I OI
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
E CO
Convention for the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage
E CO

M E M O E

EI

O E IO

ri ci e
Mem ers of the museum rofessio shoud o ser e cce ted st d rds d
s d
u ho d the di it
d ho our of their rofessio he shoud s fe u rd the u ic
i st i e
or u ethic rofessio co duct E er o ortu it shoud e used to
i form d educ te the u ic out the ims ur oses d s ir tio s of the rofes
sio to de e o
etter u ic u derst di of the co tri utio s of museums to societ

O E IO

CO

mii rit
e is tio

C
ith e e

E er mem er of the museum rofessio

shou d e co ers t ith re e t i ter
tio
tio
d oc e is tio
d the co ditio s of their em o me t
he shou d oid situ tio s th t cou d e
co strued s im ro er co duct

rofessio

es o si iit

Mem ers of the museum rofessio h e

o i tio to fo o the o icies d
rocedures of their em o i i stitutio
o e er the m
ro er o ect to
r ctices th t re ercei ed to e d m
i to museum to the ro fessio or to
m tters of rofessio ethics

rofessio

Co duct

o t to co e ues d to the em o i
museum is
im ort t rofessio
res
o si iit
d must e
sed o
e
i ce to fu d me t ethic
ri ci es
ic e to the rofessio s
ho e
hese ri ci es shou d com
ith the
terms of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Mu
seums d e
re of
other codes
or o icies re e t to museum or

c demic
es o si iities

d cie tific

Mem ers of the museum rofessio shou d

romote the i esti tio
reser tio
d use of i form tio i here t i co ec

tio s he shou d therefore refr i from

cti it or circumst ce th t mi ht
resu t i the oss of such c demic d
scie tific d t

he I icit M r et
Mem ers of the museum rofessio shoud
ot su ort the i icit tr ffic or m r et i
tu
r or cu tur ro ert direct or i direct

Co fide ti it
Mem ers of the museum rofessio must
rotect co fide ti i form tio o t i ed
duri their or I dditio i form tio
out items rou ht to the museum for
ide tific tio is co fide ti
d shou d ot
e u ished or ssed to
other i s
titutio or erso ithout s ecific uthori
s tio from the o er

Museum
ecurit

d Co ectio

I form tio
out the securit of the mu
seum or of ri te co ectio s d oc
tio s isited duri offici duties must e
he d i strict co fide ce museum erso e

E ce tio to the O i
for Co fide ti it

tio

Co fide ti it is su ect to e o i tio

to ssist the o ice or other ro er utho
rities i i esti ti
ossi e sto e i icit
c uired or i e
tr sferred ro ert

erso

I de e de ce

hi e mem ers of rofessio re e tit ed

to me sure of erso
i de e de ce
the must re ise th t o ri te usi ess
or rofessio i terest c
e ho se
r ted from their em o i i stitutio

rofessio

e tio shi s

Mem ers of the museum rofessio form

or i re tio shi s ith umerous other
erso s ithi
d outside the museum i
hich the re em o ed he re e ec
ted to re der their rofessio ser ices to
others efficie t
d to hi h st d rd

rofessio

Co su t tio

It is
rofessio res o si iit to co su t
other co e ues ithi or out side the
museum he the e ertise
i ei
the museum is i sufficie t to e sure ood
decisio m i

CO

IC

O I E E

ifts
Other erso

ours o s or
e efits

Museum em o ees must ot cce t ifts

f ours o s or other erso
e efits
th t m
e offered to them i co ectio
ith their duties for the museum Occ sio
rofessio courtes m i c ude the
i i
d recei i of ifts ut this shou d
s t e ce i the me of the i sti
tutio co cer ed

Outside Em o me t or
usi ess I terests
Mem ers of the museum rofessio
thou h e tit ed to me sure of erso
i de e de ce must re ise th t o ri
te usi ess or rofessio
i terest c
e ho se r ted from their em o i
i stitutio he shou d ot u dert e other
id em o me t or cce t outside com
missio s th t re i co f ict or m
e
ie ed s ei i co f ict ith the i te
rests of the museum

Cu tur

e i i
tur or
erit e

Mem ers of the museum

ot
rtici te direct
de i
u i or se i
tur or cu tur herit

I ter ctio

rofessio shou d
or i direct i
for rofit i the
e

ith e ers

Museum rofessio s shou d ot cce t

ift hos it it or
form of re rd
from de er uctio eer or other er
so s
i duceme t to urch se or dis
ose of museum items or to t e or refr i
from t i offici
ctio urthermore
museum rofessio
shou d ot recom
me d
rticu r de er uctio eer or
r iser to mem er of the u ic

ri te Co ecti
Mem ers of the museum rofessio shou d
ot com ete ith their i stitutio either
i the c uisitio of o ects or i
erso
co ecti
cti it
ree
me t et ee the museum rofessio
d the o er i
od co cer i
ri te co ecti must e formu ted d
scru u ous fo o ed

se of the
of ICOM

me

d o o

he me of the or is tio its cro m

or its o o m
ot e used to romote
or e dorse
for rofit o er tio or
roduct

Other Co f icts of I terest

hou d
other co f ict of i terest de
eo
et ee
i di idu
d the
museum the i terests of the museum
shou d re i

r is

o er i

od

he uthe tic tio

d u tio of
o
ect or s ecime I cert i cou tries the
term is used for i de e de t ssessme t
of
ro osed ift for t
e efit ur oses

he erso s or or is tio s defi ed i

the e
i
e is tio of the museum s
res o si e for its co ti u ce str te ic
de e o me t d fu di

Co f ict of i terest

I come e er ti

he e iste ce of erso or ri te i terest

th t i es rise to c sh of ri ci e i
or situ tio thus restricti or h i the
e r ce of restricti the o ecti it of
decisio m i

Co ser tor estorer

Museum or i de e de t erso e com ete t
to u dert e the tech ic e mi tio re
ser tio co ser tio
d restor tio of
cu tur
ro ert
or further i form tio
see ICOM e s o

Cu tur
thi
historic

erit e
or co ce t co sidered of esthetic
scie tific or s iritu si ific ce

e i
u i
i stitutio

d se i
i

items for

erso

or

ue dii e ce
he re uireme t th t e er e de our is
m de to est ish the f cts of c se efore
decidi
course of ctio
rticu r i
ide tif i the source d histor of
item
offered for c uisitio or use efore c uiri it

cti ities

cti ities i te ded to ri fi ci

rofit for the e efit of the i stitutio

i or

tit e

e
ri ht to o ershi of ro ert i the
cou tr co cer ed I cert i cou tries this m
e co ferred ri ht d i sufficie t to meet
the re uireme ts of due dii e ce se rch

Mi imum t d rd
st d rd to hich it is re so
e to
e ect museums d museum erso e
to s ire Cert i cou tries h e their o
st teme ts of mi imum st d rds

Museum
museum is o rofit m i
erm e t
i stitutio i the ser ice of societ
d of
its de e o me t o e to the u ic hich
c uires co ser es rese rches commu ic tes
d e hi its for ur oses of stud educ tio
d e o me t the t i e d i t i e
e ide ce of eo e d their e iro me t

Museum rofessio
Museum rofessio s co sist of the erso e
hether
id or u id of museums
or i sti tutio s s defi ed i
rtic e
r s
d
of the ICOM t tutes
ho h e recei ed s eci ised tr i i or
ossess
e ui e t r ctic e erie ce
i
fie d re e t to the m
eme t d
o er tio s of museum d i de e de t
erso s res ecti
the ICOM Code
of Ethics for Museums
d or i for
museums or i stitutio s s defi ed i the
t tute uoted
o e ut ot erso s
romoti or de i
ith commerci
ro
ducts d e ui me t re uired for museums
d museum ser ices

tur

erit e

tur thi
he ome o or co ce t
co sidered to e of scie tific si ific ce or
to e s iritu m ifest tio

rofit or

is tio

e
est ished od
cor or te or
u i cor or ted
hose i come i c udi
sur us or rofit is used so e for the
e efit of th t od
d its o er tio s he
term ot for rofit h s the s me me i

ro e

ce

he fu histor
d o ershi of
item
from the time of its disco er or cre tio to
the rese t d throu h hich uthe ticit
d o ershi re determi ed

id tit e
I dis ut e ri ht to o ershi of ro ert
su orted
fu ro e ce of the item
si ce disco er or roductio

* It should be noted that the terms

museum and museum professional are
interim definitions for use in interpreting the
ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums. The
definitions of museum and professional
museum workers used in the ICOM
Statutes remain in force until the revision of
that document has been completed.

he I ter tio Cou ci of Museums ICOM cre ted i

is the or d or is tio re rese ti museums d museum
rofessio s committed to the romotio
d rotectio of tur
d cu tur herit e rese t d future t i e d i t i e
ith more th
mem ers i
cou tries ICOM is
u i ue et or of museum rofessio s cti i
ide r e of
museum d herit e re ted disci i es
e di i ter tio
ctio s
M i t i i form re tio s ith E CO d co su t ti e st tus
ithi the ited tio s Eco omic d oci Cou ci ICOM so
rt ers ith e tities such s the or d I te ectu ro ert
Or i tio I E O
d the or d Customs Or i tio i
order to c rr out its i ter tio
u ic ser ice missio s hich
i c ude fi hti i icit tr ffic i cu tur oods d romoti ris
m
eme t d emer e c re red ess to rotect or d
cu tur herit e i the e e t of tur or m m de dis sters
ce tre for ref ectio
ICOM s commitme t to cu ture d o ed e romotio is
rei forced its I ter tio Committees dedic ted to
ide
r e of museum s eci ities ho co duct d ced rese rch
i their res ecti e fie ds for the e efit of the museum commu it
ICOM h s the iit to mo iise e erts i cu tur herit e or d
ide i res o se to the ch e es museums f ce rou d the o e

I ter tio Cou ci of Museums ICOM

M iso de
E CO
rue Mio is
ris cede
r ce
e e ho e
Em i secret ri t icom museum
e site htt icom museum