In the upcoming three months, three different online sessions are hosted by the ESMA Museum and Site of Memory, the Elisabeth Käsemann Foundation as well as Julie August and Dr Vivian Valencia on behalf of the Global Diplomacy Lab. As the three issues are globally highly relevant, the online sessions are intended to offer space for discussions about the concept of transnational memory still being a notion that needs in-depth analysis and further development. Its intention is to contribute to the discussion of the trajectories of the works of collective memory, truth, ustice and Democratic Development in different countries. In each session, about six experts will present in 10 minutes their positions on the topic, followed by a discussion. Afterwards, the interested audience has the possibility to ask questions to the experts.
#1: Laws Regarding Denialism. Experiences and Perspectives – online: 2022, Mar 17, 1-3pm ART, 5-7pm CET
Where do countries stand on the issue of denialism and what justifies the promotion of laws and legislation against it? This debate allows for a stronger perspective to reflect on how societies deal with their traumatic past. The case of Argentina shows an ongoing debate about whether to use law as a custodial place for safeguarding collective memory and collective values in general or not. Denialism for Argentina is a social concern because it might enable undermining the justice process that victims have long fought for, and also increases the chances of conflicts in our societies. Here you can find the Spanish link to access the event, whereas this one is for the English version. The speakers on the panel are Dr Julia Geneuss, Substitute Professor in Criminal Law, Ricardo Izquierdo, Senior Officer for International Criminal Law, Horacio Pietragalla Corti, Secretary of Human Rights of Argentina, and Dr Alejandro Alagia, Head of the department of Criminal Law the the University of Buenos Aires. GDL member Dr Vivian Valencia is going to faciliate the session. You can find all information on the session here.
#2: Genocide as a Legal Term – online: 2022, Apr 28, 12am-2pm ART, 5-7pm CEST
Before the term ‘genocide’ gained legal validity in 1948, controversial debates about the definition of the term were guided by the interests of state and lobby representatives. The ultimately reached consensus was not without contradictions and compromises and has been criticised by scholars, human rights activists and politicians from various perspectives since its implementation in international jurisprudence. Its definitional weakness complicates the legal application of the term and has become the basis for claims by national and social groups to be victims of genocide.
#3: Memory Sites. Sites of Conscience and Heritage – online: 2022, June 9, 12am-2pm ART, 5-7pm CEST
Recent memories of regional or local conflicts are mostly seen as isolated, not globally relevant issues, but indeed have commonality for the global society. Since we are all part of a globalised world and socialised with the concept of universal culture, it is unquestionable that World Heritage sites need to be preserved as part of the heritage of humankind as a whole to strengthen collective memory. Under which circumstances are these sites relevant for or seen to have a commonality for the wider global community? The participants are going to reflect on different paths or experiences leading to different outcomes.
Deborah Hartmann, Tomasz Michaldo, Lucas Masucco, as well as Dr. Jens-Christian Wagner and Alejandra Naftal are invited as speakers to give various inputs to their experience and perspective regarding the topic.
For further information, see also the 7th Lab on "Memory, Truth and Justice -
Museums and Memory Sites as Spaces for Mass Atrocities Prevention".
Further Events
Julie August is a graphic designer and art curator. She works as a graphic designer for publishing houses and architects, as well as cultural and social projects, and also organises exhibitions. Before moving to Buenos Aires, she lived in Berlin for 15 years. As art director at the small left-wing publishing house Verlag Klaus Wagenbach, she converted part of her home into a project space for contemporary artists.
The 18m gallery led her to other curatorial projects, first in Albania and Serbia, and now in Argentina and Germany. Together with Rachel Kohn, she has been directing the women artists’ network “Frauenmuseum Berlin” for eight years. She studied literature and art history in Munich and graphic design in Leipzig. She has a 24-year-old daughter and is married to the Argentine filmmaker Liliana Furió. In addition to her cultural activities, she sees a profound necessity to participate in social and human rights issues.
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Learn more about Julie in this article.
Dr Vivian Valencia is an interdisciplinary scientist who utilises perspectives and methods from the natural and social sciences to investigate the socio-ecological processes that shape agricultural landscapes and food systems and the consequences for food security, ecosystems and biodiversity. She is currently Assistant Professor at Wageningen University. She earned her PhD from Columbia University in 2015.
Dr Valencia’s research and professional career have been supported by the National Geographic Early Career Grant, PRIME Fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Marie Curie Programme of the European Commission, Bill and Melinda Gates Millenium Scholarship among others.
Dr Valencia is active in the policy sphere, where she aims to close the gap between science and policy-making. She is a former member of the GDL’s Advisory Council; a BMW Responsible Leader; an alumna of several programmes of the Bosch Foundation; an alumna of the Managing Global Governance Training Programme of the German Development Institute (DIE); and an alumna of the “International Futures” programme of Training for International Diplomats of the German Federal Foreign Office.
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Read more about Vivian here.
Dr Vivian Valencia is an interdisciplinary scientist who utilises perspectives and methods from the natural and social sciences to investigate the socio-ecological processes that shape agricultural landscapes and food systems and the consequences for food security, ecosystems and biodiversity. She is currently Assistant Professor at Wageningen University. She earned her PhD from Columbia University in 2015.
Dr Valencia’s research and professional career have been supported by the National Geographic Early Career Grant, PRIME Fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Marie Curie Programme of the European Commission, Bill and Melinda Gates Millenium Scholarship among others.
Dr Valencia is active in the policy sphere, where she aims to close the gap between science and policy-making. She is a former member of the GDL’s Advisory Council; a BMW Responsible Leader; an alumna of several programmes of the Bosch Foundation; an alumna of the Managing Global Governance Training Programme of the German Development Institute (DIE); and an alumna of the “International Futures” programme of Training for International Diplomats of the German Federal Foreign Office.
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Read more about Vivian here.
