Gilt lacquered reliquary image enclosing the remains of the Buddhist monk Liuquan Zhanggong, China, Fujian province, Song dynasty, 11th–12th c. Chinese Village Committees v Oscar Van Overeem et al., 2015.

International Symposium

Negotiating the Human: Justice, Ethics and Culture in Dealing with the Human Remains

16 September 2022 – University of Geneva

Human remains held by private or public entities (museums, universities, private collections, etc.) or retrieved from places of conflict raise numerous scientific, legal, ethical and social questions and call for special reflection. This is due to their specific status which differentiates them from other items of cultural heritage.

The Art-Law Centre of the University of Geneva, its UNESCO Chair in International Cultural Heritage Law and the International Cultural Property Society are organizing an international symposium on Negotiating the Human: Justice, Ethics and Culture in Dealing with Human Remains.

With a keynote opening presentation by former Justice of the High Court of Australia the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG this event will bring together specialists from many countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada, as well as France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Issues to be addressed will include the legal and cultural status and treatment of human remains and ancient DNA from a national and international perspective, their conservation and exhibition, and their return to the communities to which they belong, considering interests of transitional justice.