The international training seminar for young people on the preservation of historical memory in Europe "Memory and lessons of the Second World War" dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism and the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights was held online on the Zoom platform from December 14 to 18, 2020 and brought together 50 participants from signatory countries of the European Cultural Convention as well as from other countries that are directly interested and connected with issues of the seminar. Participants were youth leaders and activists, youth workers and representatives of local and regional authorities, educational advisers from memorial sites, history teachers, young politicians and diplomats.
The event was held for the sixth time, but for the first time in an online format. The seminar was aimed at increasing the significance and quality of youth work in the field of historical memory and improving the quality of events, projects and programs with youth aimed at promoting peace, human rights and intercultural dialogue.
Participants were 50 people from signatory countries of the European Cultural Convention as well as from other countries who are directly interested and connected with issues of the seminar. Participants were youth leaders and activists, youth workers and representatives of local and regional authorities, educational advisers from memorial sites, history teachers, young politicians and diplomats.
Tasks and purposes:
- To discuss participants' understanding of concepts of historical memory, human rights, intercultural dialogue and reconciliation,
- To create a space for the exchange of views and critical reflection on the experience of participants in holding events taking into account Recommendations for holding events in the field of preserving historical memory (developed at the Consultative meeting in December 2019, at the European Youth Center in Strasbourg),
- To discuss the significance of commemorative events in honor of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN and the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights for youth and modern society,
- To discuss challenges associated with the preservation of historical memory and the teaching of history (including historical revisionism, falsification and manipulation of facts about historical events) as well as ways to respond to them,
- To honor the memory of victims of the Second World War as a part of the 75th anniversary of its end and to contribute to the perpetuation of their memory including through working with youth;
- To raise awareness of the role of youth work and youth organizations in the Russian Federation and other signatories of the European Cultural Convention in the defense of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe.
During the five-day program participants learned about the creation of international organizations after the Second World War such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations, about their policies in the field of civic education and the preservation of memory, about approaches to the study and teaching of history in the Council of Europe and in the Russian Federation as well as non-governmental initiatives related to the practice of peace and reconciliation.
Participants took part in an open dialogue with experts on such topics as memory and its meaning in the past and present, the right and duty to remember, multi-perspectives and critical thinking in working with young people to preserve memory, the Council of Europe's program of confidence-building measures. Among speakers was Academic Director of the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences academician A.O. Chubaryan, the Chairman of the Board of the Russian Historical Society K.I. Mogilevsky, representatives of Secretariats of the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
In addition, participants met with representatives of the Museum of German Resistance (Berlin) and the Tolerance Center of the Jewish Museum (Moscow) where they got acquainted with approaches of museums to work with the younger generation.
Participants also met with the historian, writer and screenwriter A.G. Zvyagintsev, watched the film "Nuremberg. 70 years later" and discussed "the main tribunal of the 20th century".
A significant part of the program was devoted to the relationship between human rights and memory and the application of an approach based on human rights education in youth work.
The event is a part of the Action Plan for 2020 to the Framework Program on Cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe in the field of youth policy.
Results:
The event drew attention to the importance of preserving historical memory and its transmission to new generations, facilitated increasing the interest of European youth in the history of the Second World War and understanding the significance of its results for the formation of a world order based on international law.
