The WMD's DemocracyNews
Electronic Newsletter of the World Movement for Democracy - www.wmd.org
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The World Movement is pleased to announce the Web site posting of "WHAT'S BEING DONE ON... MEMORY PROJECTS?"
http://www.wmd.org/wbdo/aug-sep06.html

This new installment of "What's Being Done On...?" focuses on Memory Projects and their relationship to democracy. Whether they memorialize a single event or a period in history, memory projects are established specifically to preserve and come to terms with a country’s past and create hope for the future.

Memory projects are important to democratic development because only through reconciliation and acceptance of the past can a previously divided citizenry work together for a common future. Memory projects can take the form of online memorials, museums, or documentary archives. They foster dialogue, non-violent coexistence, and a place to safeguard the memories of the past for current and future generations.

IN THIS INSTALLMENT:

This installment includes case studies and interviews with five organizations with memory projects:

(1) OMID MEMORIAL, IRAN—an online memorial to the victims of the Islamic regime in Iran since 1979; interview with Ladan Boroumand, Co-founder.

(2) DOCUMENTATION CENTER OF CAMBODIA—the leading repository of documents on the Khmer Rouge; interview with Youk Chhang, Director.

(3) DISTRICT SIX MUSEUM, SOUTH AFRICA—a museum dedicated to the memory of the neighborhood of District Six in Cape Town and the destruction of its community during apartheid; interview with Valmont Layne, Director.

(4) MEMORIA ABIERTA, ARGENTINA—a coalition of human rights organizations devoted to preserving the memory of human rights abuses committed during the country's period of State terrorism; interview with Patricia T. de Valdez, Director.

(5) INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF HISTORIC SITE MUSEUMS OF CONSCIENCE—a global network of historic museums on four continents; interview with Liz Sevcenko, Executive Director.

Each case study features a summary of the organization, an interview, and, if applicable, a list of programs.

The installment also includes a list of additional memory projects around the world. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, but is intended to be illustrative of the kinds of projects others might consider as examples for their own work. We welcome your suggestions of other memory projects that contribute to strengthening democracy, which we will be happy to consider adding to this list. Please send information to world@ned.org.

Previous themes for this section of the World Movement Web site include Breakthrough Elections; Cross-Border Assistance; Internet and Other Media; Women's Participation in Politics; Strengthening Local Governance; Peace Building and Democracy; Civic Education for Democracy; Transparency, Accountability and Access to Information; Political and Civic Participation of Youth; Using Advocacy to Achieve Democratic Reform; Promotion of Labor Rights; and Human Rights and Democracy in Turkey (related to the Fourth Assembly held in Istanbul in April 2006). They are available in the "What's Being Done On...?" archives (www.wmd.org/wbdo/whatsbeingdone.html.)

Go to: http://www.wmd.org/wbdo/aug-sep06.html or visit the World Movement Web site (www.wmd.org) and click on "What's Being Done On...?"

Please share this message with your colleagues.

Thank you very much.
World Movement for Democracy
1025 F Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004
Fax: 202-378-9889
E-mail: world@ned.org
Web: http://www.wmd.org

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