Ethics

Collections and museum ethics in Geneva

The museums and heritage institutions of the City of Geneva reflect the history, culture and identity of Geneva. They are open to the community, and contribute to its dynamism and development.

To guarantee the integrity of its collections, the City relies on an Ethics Committee, responsible for assessing the provenance, ownership and authenticity of the works, as well as the ethics of each acquisition.

See ICOM

Code of Ethics for the City of Geneva

Ethics Committee

Established in 2009 and governed by a specific regulation (LC 21 615), the Ethics Committee ensures that the City’s museums and heritage institutions comply with international and ethical standards.

It is made up of specialists in archaeology, fine arts, ethnography, natural sciences and art law, and may be called upon by the Administrative Council, the elected representative in charge of culture or institutions, or take up a case on its own initiative by a majority decision of its members.

It is based in particular on the ICOM Code of Ethics, which sets the professional standards for the museum sector, regarding acquisitions, legal compliance, collection management and security, restitutions and combatting illegal trafficking.