Prague-Wrocław, 10.09.2024

The European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes was proclaimed by the European Parliament in 2008, as on 23rd August 1939, the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was signed. The Pact divided Europe between totalitarian regimes and was the beginning of the war. It was the most devastating chapter of European history.

It is extremely important to remember the past to not let it return. Preserving the memory of the crimes committed by totalitarian and authoritarian regimes is the only way to show that democracy and fundamental rights are not given but the result of a painful history.

 

Our member organisations have organised exhibitions, marches and campaigns to commemorate the victims. We were sharing information about these activities on PEMC’s social media pages.

 

Marek Mutor, President of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience participated in the event organised by Gedenk- und Begegnungsstätte Leistikowstrasse in Potsdam, Germany. The President delivered an opening lecture during the ceremony, in which he recalled the importance of remembering the victims of totalitarianism.

 

Our Romanian member, Pitești Prison Memorial Foundation, has opened a new exhibition “Silent Witnesses: Artefacts from the Communist Prisons”. August 23 also concluded a documentary theatre performance about the women of the anti-communist resistance and the traces of communism in contemporary society across geographical borders. “Share Location: The Făgăraș Resistance”. 

 

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, JBANC and the Embassies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gathered outside the Victims of Communism Museum to celebrate 35 years since the Baltic Way.

 

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia organised a free guided tour in memory of the victims of Soviet and Nazi occupations. The tour included 17 locations in the centre of Riga, commemorative events took place at the Memorial to the Victims (next to Town Hall Square) and the “Black Threshold” (at the KGB House). Also an exhibition on the “Baltic Way” was held, along with an interactive campaign.

 

We also want to point out some other initiatives among our members which include: 

• The Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile held a conference “On August 23, 1944. 80 years in retrospect” 
• Nation’s Memory Institute from Slovakia was involved in the distribution of commemorative badges in Bratislava in cooperation with ENRS
• The Museum of Communism Terror from the United Kingdom has prepared a new video about the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.
• The Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to the Anti-Communist Resistance opened an exhibition-event “Women Enemies of the People. Women, Victims of the Communist Repression,”
• Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes from the Czech Republic held a conference – “85 Years of Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact”
• Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania organised an international bicycle tour “MEMORY TRAIL” and opening of the exhibition “From Soviet Red to Lithuanian Tricolor: 50 Years of Fight for Freedom” 

 

Networking activities and cooperation with our members were possible thanks to the support of the Polish National Foundation.