The confrontation between the universal mission of museums and the massive transfer of cultural property over the course of history has sparked lively debate in professional circles.

Many countries have recognized the importance of museums as a place for the preservation, study and display of their cultural past. Moreover, some countries have appealed to the international community for assistance in reconstituting their cultural memory and traditional knowledge by requesting the return of objects preserved in foreign collections.

This desire to play a role in the management and preservation of cultural heritage is also valid for certain cultural communities within States, such as indigenous groups. Such requests suggest that new forms of mutually beneficial collaboration should be studied and established between museums, governments and heritage professionals.

Committed to defending the universality of museums’ missions on the one hand, and recognizing the need for countries to preserve their past and to reconstitute their cultural memory on the other, UNESCO seeks to promote the accessibility and sharing of knowledge associated with cultural objects.

In order to reach these aims, UNESCO wishes to associate with all actors in order to complement legal considerations with philosophical and historical perspectives. A panel of professionals representing different approaches to the issues of memory and universality will debate for the first time:

Universal Museums

• Henri Loyrette, President Director, Musée du Louvre
• Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum
• Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage Museum

International Council of Museums

• Alissandra Cummins, President, ICOM
• Bernice Murphy, President, Ethics Committee, ICOM

Museum Community and Source Countries

• Alain Godonou, Director, École du Patrimoine Africain, Benin
• Richard West, Director, National Museum of the American Indian, United States of America
• Juan Antonio Valdés, Professor of Archaeology San Carlos University, Guatemala

Academic Community

• Krzysztof Pomian, Philosopher, Historian, Director of Research Emeritus, French Centre national de recherche scientifique (CNRS)

Articles from the Press

• AllAfrica.com
• Le Figaro
• Le Monde

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