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The project on Contested Histories in Public Spaces is a co-initiative of EuroClio, the European Association of History Educators, and the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR). The research examines contestations over statues, monuments, memorials, street names, buildings and other physical representations of historical legacies in public spaces. The result is an expanding global catalogue of case studies that aims to provide a resource for policy-makers, decision-makers, educators, journalists, scholars and others interested in the subject of contested histories in public spaces. Outputs include policy recommendations, educational materials and published papers. The programme is supported, in part, by the European Union.

IHJR
IHJR

Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation, founded in 2004 at the Salzburg Global Seminar, becomes independent in 2008 and in 2016 moves headquarters to EuroClio’s Office in The Hague.

A Conversation at Oxford
People seated and walking around Rhodes House Hall, Oxford

In the wake of #RhodesMustFall (RMF) at the University of Cape Town in 2015, and in the midst of RMF at Oxford in Spring 2016, a conversation with the Warden…
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First Discussions with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM)
First Discussions with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM)

Discussions focused on the need for a neutral platform for various stakeholders addressing contested histories. First case studies researched and template designed for case studies.

A landmark month

Welcomed First Interns from Erasmus University Rotterdam;  Prototype for the map designed; First expert meeting with OSCE HCNM; First Contested Histories Symposium at All Souls College, University of Oxford

First Occasional Paper published

Thinking About Historical Legacies: Looking for Just Principles and Processes By Charles R. Conn

International Task Force meets in Paris
International Task Force meets in Paris

First 25 cases presented; decision taken to publish a book of ten cases in cooperation with the International Bar Association and Salzburg Global Seminar

International Task Force meets at All Souls College
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities addresses the room at the Contested Histories symposium at All Soul's College, Oxford, in 2019.

With OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier as keynote speaker

Contested Histories Workshop in South Africa
Group photo taken at the Facing History and Ourselves 2019 Summit in South Africa.

The project and case of Edward Colston in Bristol was presented at Facing History and Ourselves’ Global Summit

Cases List surpasses 200

Sparked by the death of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter demonstrations, disputes over statues, monuments, street names accelerate – catalogue has more than 200 cases by summer’s end

Onsite Project launched
Contested Histories Onsite project logo

In partnership with the Memory Studies Association, and support from the EU’s Europe for Citizens programme, the Contested Histories Onsite project launches

Contested Histories in Public Spaces: Principles, Processes, Best Practices
Navy blue book cover with white lettering and image of protestors surrounding a statue of Winston Churchill in London, UK.

The International Bar Association published a volume of ten case studies from around the globe and recommendations by the Task Force for decision-makers, educators and other stakeholders.

First Meeting of the Contested Histories Education Task Force
First Meeting of the Contested Histories Education Task Force

The first educational task force meets in Lyon, France to brainstorm how to translate the case studies into Educational Material.

African Changemakers Launches
African Changemakers Launches

The new project, African Changemakers starts work and Post-Doc Maria Ambrozy begins to work on translating African Case Studies into educational material.

The Early Atlantic Slave Trade in Portugal A Digital Archive of Contested Legacies Starts FIlming
The Early Atlantic Slave Trade in Portugal A Digital Archive of Contested Legacies Starts FIlming

The Digital Archive team for Contested Legacies arrives in Portugal and begins filming and gathering material for the Digital Archive on the Early Atlantic Slave Trade in Portugal.