Objectives:
The Bill of 3 July 2022 recognises the alienability of goods linked to the Belgian State’s colonial past and determines a legal framework for their restitution and return, making Belgium the first country with legislative framework allowing large-scale restitutions of colonial collections.
Restitution Measures:
Parliamentary approval and democratically backed adoption provides legal mechanism for bilateral restitution agreements.
Framework Limitations:
Narrow scope (only cultural objects from former Belgian colonies, no archives or human remains), excludes local communities from restitution proceedings, and lacks procedural rules making the process less transparent and more political. The legislation excludes local communities within the State of origin from being involved in restitution proceedings.
