Petition
Repeal the British Museum Act 1963
Rejected
10 signatures
What the petition asks
The British Museum Act of 1963 makes it so that institutions such as the British Museum and the Natural History Museum cannot return the items that they hold unless in very specific circumstances mandated by not only the Trustees of the museums, but also the British Parliament.
This law means that many communities cannot have objects and artefacts returned to them, and means that the British Museum continues its reign of imperial power and colonialism over the rest of the world. By repealing the act, actions can be taken to start to return these objects, and, if affected communities are willing, to repair the bonds damaged by centuries of British colonialism and theft.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign this petition which calls for a similar action: Amend the British Museum Act 1963 to allow for the return of artefacts
Timeline
| 9 Jan 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
10
Status
Rejected
Rejected
5 Mar 2025
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 27 Aug 2026.