The project on Contested Histories in Public Spaces works towards providing the following outputs:
The ten case studies in this volume were selected with a twofold purpose: first, to examine the dynamics around specific contestations around the world in recent, real-world situations to demonstrate that these contestations are a global phenomenon; and second, to identify ‘best practices’ that can help decision-makers faced with similar situations address them in an effective and responsible manner. While every contestation will have its own unique constellation of social, political, legal and cultural dynamics, it is hoped that these cases can provide insight into the complex interplay of these forces.
This report was compiled by Dr Timothy Ryback, Co-Founder of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR); Dr Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association (IBA); and Benjamin Glahn, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Salzburg Global Seminar, in collaboration with a Task Force chaired by the Rt Hon Baroness Prashar of Runnymede, a crossbench member of the House of Lords.
The project is developing representative case studies with accompanying guidelines and best practices that can be utilized to inform future decision-making processes that deal with complex and difficult issues of historical legacy.
Each case study will address the following issues:
The Contested Histories project also seeks to provide an interactive map that shows the locations of contestations across the globe with a picture and short description. The cases will be organized by categories of contestation and an icon indicating if they are bounded to legal components. Below you can see a provisional version of the map. The interactive map will be released upon completion.