"French senators adopted a bill on Wednesday to simplify the return of artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin. The draft legislation was unanimously approved by the upper house and will next be sent to the National Assembly lower house before it can become law. France still has in its possession tens of thousands of artworks and other prized artefacts that it looted from its colonial empire."
"President Emmanuel Macron has gone further than his predecessors in admitting past French abuses in Africa. Speaking on a visit to the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou shortly after taking office in 2017, Macron vowed that France would never again interfere in its former colonies and promised to facilitate the return of African cultural heritage within five years. Former colonial powers in Europe have slowly been moving to send back some artworks obtained during their imperial conquests, but France is hindered by its current legislation."
French senators unanimously adopted a bill to simplify returning artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin, and the measure will go to the National Assembly next. France still holds tens of thousands of looted artworks and artefacts from its colonial empire. The bill targets property acquired between 1815 and 1972 and streamlines a process that currently requires voting on each item individually. President Emmanuel Macron pledged to facilitate the return of African cultural heritage within five years and sought a new relationship with Africa that includes restitution. France has faced numerous restitution demands from countries including Algeria, Mali, Benin and Ivory Coast.
Read at The Local France
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]