International Council of Museums

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is an international nongovernmental organization that supports museums and museum professionals and promotes the preservation of cultural heritage.

ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums: A professional standard defining ethical principles for museums and their staff. ICOM’s code guides professional conduct in collections care, public service, and institutional governance.
ICOM General Conference: ICOM’s triennial international gathering of museum professionals and representatives. The conference convenes members to debate shared issues and set organizational priorities.
UNESCO: A United Nations agency that promotes cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. UNESCO helped establish ICOM in 1946 and remains a close institutional partner.
Illicit trafficking of cultural property: The illegal trade in cultural objects removed or transferred in violation of law. ICOM’s guidance and Red Lists support efforts to prevent this trade.
Museum decolonization: Efforts to address colonial power and legacies in museum collections, interpretation, and governance. ICOM’s global membership must negotiate differing expectations about institutional reform and historical responsibility.
ICOM Red Lists: Lists identifying categories of cultural objects vulnerable to illicit trafficking. ICOM publishes these tools to help authorities recognize objects at risk of illegal trade.
ICOM National Committees: Country-based ICOM bodies that represent members and coordinate activities nationally. They connect international programs with museum professionals and institutions in each country.
Chauncey J. Hamlin: An American museum leader who became ICOM’s first president. Hamlin helped organize the council’s founding and shaped its early international role.
Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act: A United States law implementing parts of the 1970 UNESCO convention on cultural property. ICOM’s expertise and object-risk tools intersect with international efforts to restrict illicit imports.
Repatriation of cultural property: The return of cultural objects to source communities, states, or former owners. ICOM’s ethical guidance intersects with contested claims over collections and restitution.

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