Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage now accepting requests
Bern, 30.09.2026 — Requests for recommendations may now be submitted to the Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage (CPCH). This follows the commission’s adoption of its Rules of Procedure at its third meeting on 18 September 2026. The commission announced this im-portant milestone at a press conference today, where it also provided an update on the current state of its work. This includes consultations with federal institutions on cultural objects in the possession of the Confederation. The commission also presented two on-going projects: It considers an inventory of human and ancestral remains held in Swiss collections and institu-tions to be necessary. In addition, it intends to engage in dialogue with museums and other stakeholders to exchange information and discuss approaches to dealing with historically problematic cultural heritage.
The Commission for Historically Problematic Cultural Heritage has reached an important milestone just six months after beginning its work: it has adopted its Rules of Procedure for dealing with individual cases. The conditions and procedure for reviewing specific requests are therefore now in place, both for cultural objects from the National Socialist era and for objects connected to the colonial context. The Rules of Procedure, together with explanatory notes, are available on the Commission’s website (www.khbk.admin.ch).
It is precisely in cases where years of negotiations have failed to reach an agreement and have required considerable perseverance from those involved that the commission is intended to help pave the way towards just and fair solutions. To this end, it provides a structured, independent and transparent framework in which the interests of all parties involved are carefully considered before a recommendation is developed on how to proceed with the cultural object in question.
Mediation or recommendation
The rules of procedure substantiate the legal provisions and regulate the steps leading to a recommendation. Each procedure begins with a request submitted by one or both parties, depending on the circumstances of the case. The commission first determines whether the parties may be able to reach an amicable settlement through mediation. This is particularly relevant in cases where the parties’ positions have not yet become firmly established. In such cases, the commission may adapt the procedure to the specific circumstances and initially support efforts to find a mutually agreed solution. The procedure leading to a recommendation begins only if these efforts prove unsuccessful.
The commission’s recommendations are based on internationally recognised standards and are not legally binding. In addition to recommending the return of an object, the Commission may also recommend other forms of a just and fair solution.
Focus on federal collections and two projects
At its third meeting on 18 September 2026, the commission heard from the Swiss National Library (NL), the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the Swiss National Museum (SNM) on how they address historically problematic cultural heritage in their collections. The discussions focused on existing procedures for investigating the provenance and ownership history of cultural objects in their respective collections, as well as on how to deal with objects where there is growing evidence of a problematic history. Prior to that, the commission had also invited the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) to a hearing. These hearings provide the commission with a basis for advising the Federal Council and the Federal Administration on how to deal with historically problematic cultural objects in the possession of the Confederation.
In addition to that, the commission has initiated two projects:
- Swiss collections, including those held by museums, universities and other institutions, contain human remains such as skulls, skeletons and tissue samples, some of which originate from the colonial period or other contexts of historical injustice. The commission sees a need for a systematic inventory and for research into the history of how these remains were acquired, and is examining how this could be carried out. The aim is to establish greater clarity about the provenance of these remains and to provide a basis for an appropriate response to the concerns of communities of origin.
- What responsibilities do museums have when dealing with historically problematic cultural heritage, and how do they put these responsibilities into practice? To explore these questions, the commission is engaging in dialogue with museums beyond the federal level, as well as with other relevant stakeholders. The focus is on the due diligence requirements and standards that collecting institutions apply when dealing with historically problematic cultural heritage, and on the strategies they use to implement them. The dialogue is intended to highlight concrete questions and practical challenges, and to identify areas where further action may be needed.
With these two projects, the commission is tackling issues of fundamental significance when dealing with historically problematic cultural heritage. The findings from this work will enable the commission to identify potential areas for action at the federal level and to advise the Confederation on developing overarching approaches to dealing with historically problematic cultural heritage.
With the adoption of its Rules of Procedure, the hearings with federal institutions and the launch of further groundwork, the commission has laid the foundations for its work – and for a responsible approach to historically problematic cultural heritage in Switzerland.