Decolonisation of Museum Collections and Repatriation of Artefacts - Amendment 1

Division held on 20 May 2025. The Amendment Therefore Fell

Decision type

Simple Majority

Method

Lobby Division

Result

The Amendment Therefore Fell

Debate

Decolonisation of Museum Collections and Repatriation of Artefacts

Official Assembly record of this division Official Report of the debate

The motion voted on

Motion Amendment (Private Members' Motion): Decolonisation of Museum Collections and Repatriation of Artefacts - Amendment 1

Leave out all after ‘impacted’ and insert: ‘: recognises that many museums are already working under significant financial constraints and that their primary responsibility must remain the preservation, interpretation, and accessibility of collections that reflect history and identity; believes that while the ethical return of human remains or sacred objects may be appropriate in individual, evidence-based cases, this should not be confused with a broader mandate to revise or remove shared cultural artefacts that help tell our collective story; further acknowledges the risk of ideologically driven international campaigns around cultural or historical revisionism and blame which may not reflect the unique context or priorities of each society, nor the complexities surrounding provenance, acquisition, and legal ownership in many historical cases; further recognises that such artefacts are often preserved and made accessible through the expertise, conservation facilities, and educational programmes offered by museums, enabling them to serve as valuable resources for public learning and community cohesion; and calls on the Minister for Communities to support museums in developing their ethical policies with a focus on access, education, and reconciliation, ensuring that resources are directed toward programmes that foster understanding within and between communities.’

The motion has not been assessed yet.

Tabled by: Mr Andy Allen MBE, Mr Doug Beattie MC, Mr Robbie Butler, Mr John Stewart

Totals

How each MLA voted

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