ABSTRACT
Prompt restitution is appropriate if a specimen was transferred in violation of the principles of international and national conventions and shown to be part of that country's/people's heritage. Taking these provisions, this forward-looking document calls for respectful dialogue with communities of origin within a context that recognizes humanitarian principles and international legislation. There can be no doubt that the current political situation in the United States has raised worldwide concerns regarding the direction of the nation and what that means for global security. This chapter discusses the effects and implications of a highly charged political atmosphere and how these might affect natural history museum practices. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) Code of Ethics for Natural History Museums is specific to natural history museums and supplements the same. The parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention recognize that the illicit import, export, and transfer of cultural property are among the main causes of an impoverished cultural heritage in the origin countries.
