The International Council of Museums adopted its revised Code of Ethics for Museums on June 25 during the 41st Ordinary General Assembly in Paris with 85.9 percent of members in favor. The vote followed a multi-year revision process led by the ICOM Ethics Committee that incorporated input from 114 national and international committees as well as regional alliances and affiliated organizations. ICOM figures show the effort began in 2019 and included multiple rounds of global consultations webinars and surveys to refine the document. The organization stated that all members must abide by the code as a condition of membership.
ICOM first established its code in 1986 with a major revision in 2004 according to the body’s historical records. The latest update aligns the framework with the museum definition approved by members in 2022 during an assembly in Prague. A statement from ICOM noted that the revision accounts for museums facing geopolitical social economic and climatic challenges while questioning some long-accepted practices. The process engaged more than 60 percent of the ICOM network which provided feedback that shaped the final principles.
The revised code organizes ethical guidance around five core principles ICOM reported. These include society with the statement that museums serve society professionalism under which museums operate and communicate with competence knowledge and professional standards and education where museums offer diverse experiences for the sharing of knowledge and reflection. Collections form another principle focused on how museums research collect and conserve while governance establishes that museums are not-for-profit permanent institutions. Each principle includes specific guidelines to direct professional conduct.
Provisions in the new code direct museums to pursue carbon neutrality and address their historical roles in colonialism according to ICOM documentation. Museums must refrain from acquiring objects from occupied territories and respond promptly to restitution requests with transparency based on scientific historical and traditional knowledge. The framework also requires those using digital tools including artificial intelligence to consider ethical implications environmental impact and risks of spreading inaccurate information. ICOM said these elements respond directly to contemporary pressures on the sector.
The code emphasizes cooperation with communities including Indigenous peoples and supports reparative practices to repair past injustices. It calls for museums to foster dialogue combat prejudice and maintain control over content and integrity regardless of funding sources. An ICOM assessment found that the principles allow flexibility for implementation across varied cultural legal and resource contexts worldwide. The document integrates both tangible and intangible heritage along with digital assets.
ICOM indicated that practical guidance documents will accompany the code to assist museums in daily application of the principles. These resources will be developed progressively and updated over time similar to prior guidelines on deaccessioning. The organization which marks its 80th anniversary this year represents a global network that includes tens of thousands of institutions. The revised code forms one of three pillars alongside ICOM statutes and internal rules.
