Revision of the ICOM Code of Ethics – Bulgarian National Committee of ICOM

What did the ICOM Network say about the first draft of the Revised Code of Ethics?

ETHCOM is grateful for the invaluable feedback of 74 National Committees, International Committees, Regional Alliances and Affiliated Organizations that participated in the preliminary review conducted in autumn 2024.

The five core principles—Social Responsibility; Professional Practice; Education, Programs and Exhibitions; Collections and Research; Governance, and Leadership—-received strong support, meeting the expectations of over 60% of the ICOM network! The members demonstrated their willingness to actively participate in the revision process of the Code of Ethics by providing ETHCOM with constructive and succinct suggestions for further improving each Principle’s statements and descriptions.
Next steps for the Revision process

The revision process of the ICOM Code of Ethics is ongoing, and following the global webinar on March 17, our network will have the opportunity to provide valuable feedback during the 4th consultation phase, which will last a month and a half. Stay tuned for the invitation to the webinar—your insights will play a crucial role in shaping the final version of the revised Code!
General points of consensus among ICOM members

The first draft of the revised Code of Ethics proposed a significant foundation of values capturing essential ethical commitments of museums to social justice, accessibility, inclusivity and human rights. With a more accurate, affirmative and operational language, the revised Code of Ethics should translate aspirational duties into applicable standards, guiding museum professionals towards responsible decision-making. For the vast majority of ICOM members, the Code of Ethics should address in a clear and comprehensive manner the critical challenge of digital technologies and artificial intelligence while focusing on sustainability.

The Social Responsibility of Museums
ICOM Committees defined the social responsibility of museums as service for society’s benefit. According to many respondents, museums serve society by being accessible, inclusive, by upholding human rights and operating as an open space of dialogue among diverse communities and social groups for the protection, transmission and interpretation of heritage. Ensuring environmental and financial sustainability is also part of their social responsibility.

Professional Practises
Museums operate and communicate ethically according to professional standards. The ICOM network respondents identified engagements that involve all levels of professionals, from museum leaders and members of the museum profession to people who work in and with museums, highlighting their principal duty of refraining from any conflict of interest that compromises their professional integrity and dignity. Providing continuous training and ensuring museum staff and volunteer’s professional knowledge and competencies in order to fulfil the museum mission is part of the museum leader’s responsibility.

Education, Programs and Exhibitions
The participatory, collaborative and inclusive approach in educational programs and exhibitions is considered by the majority of ICOM committees to be one of the main ethical commitments of museums. The respondents underlined the responsibility that museums should demonstrate in exhibiting and publishing sensitive materials, such as human remains, while underscored that accurate, reliable and credible information provided by the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions is a question of integrity.

Collections and Research
What are museums responsibilities towards their collections? They should ensure their security, documentation, conservation and restoration, while guaranteeing an accessible and collaborative research process and the transmission of knowledge for the benefit of the whole society. The Committees identified ethical obligations in collections management, care, and stewardship that apply both to tangible and intangible heritage, addressing new challenges for the digital collections. Echoing the 2004 Code, museums follow thorough acquisition, accessioning, and deaccessioning procedures by carrying out exhaustive provenance research and due diligence and therefore participate actively in the fight against illicit trade and trafficking. Finally, museums respond respectfully and promptly to inquiries from law enforcement agencies concerning the possible return or restitution of cultural heritage as well as to requests from Indigenous Peoples and communities for the repatriation of their heritage.

Governance and Leadership
What are the most critical ethical responsibilities of governing bodies in charge of museums today, according to ICOM members? Accountable for enabling museum professionals to fulfil their duties by ensuring the professional, physical, and financial resources necessary in the most sustainable manner, the museum governing body should first and foremost demonstrate transparency and accountability. Through clear and comprehensive policies, as well as with an open and transparent communication and cooperation channel with external partners and entities, museum governing bodies should reveal their professional autonomy and integrity. A strong commitment to inclusive leadership that reflects the diversity of the society the museum represents is in fact an ethical commitment of the museum governance.