Objectives:
Authorised the restitution of Sara (Saartjie) Baartman’s remains from France to South Africa following President N. Mandela’s request. This was to remove Baartman’s human remains from Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle collections through parliamentary legislation.
Restitution Measures:
Special parliamentary law enacted March 6, 2002, enabling successful repatriation on May 3, 2002, with burial in Hankey on August 9, 2002, after eight years of negotiations.
Framework Limitations:
Required specific parliamentary legislation due to inalienable collections status. Carefully worded to avoid setting legal precedent for other restitution claims, limiting broader applicability for future cases.
