German Government to Establish Arbitration Court for Nazi-Looted Art Restitution
On January 8, 2025, the German government announced its decision to establish an arbitration court to resolve disputes over the restitution of Nazi-looted cultural artifacts. This announcement follows years of pressure from victims’ families and advocacy groups, who have long argued that the current system for resolving such claims is inadequate.
The new arbitration court will be established under the auspices of the German Cultural Foundation, and will have the authority to make binding decisions on restitution claims. The court will be composed of independent experts in the field of cultural heritage law, and will consider a range of factors in reaching its decisions, including the provenance of the artwork, the circumstances under which it was acquired by the Nazis, and the current ownership of the artwork.
The establishment of the arbitration court is a significant step forward in the German government’s efforts to address the legacy of Nazi looting. For decades, victims’ families have struggled to recover artworks that were stolen from them by the Nazis, often facing legal and bureaucratic obstacles. The new arbitration court will provide a more streamlined and efficient process for resolving these claims, and will help to ensure that victims’ families have a fair chance of recovering their lost cultural heritage.
In a statement announcing the decision, German Culture Minister Claudia Roth said that “Germany takes its historical responsibility seriously.” She added that the establishment of the arbitration court is “a clear sign that we are committed to finding just and equitable solutions to the issue of Nazi-looted art.”
The decision to establish the arbitration court has been welcomed by victims’ families and advocacy groups. The World Jewish Congress, which has long campaigned for the establishment of such a court, said that the decision is “a major victory for justice and for the victims of Nazi persecution.”
The arbitration court is expected to begin accepting claims in the coming months. It is hoped that the court will help to resolve many of the outstanding claims for Nazi-looted art, and will provide a measure of justice for the victims of Nazi persecution.
Kabinett macht den Weg frei für Schiedsgericht NS-Raubgut – Kulturstaatsministerin Roth: „Deutschland nimmt seine historische Verantwortung wahr“
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