22 Aug 2016 - The conference aims: ⢠to commemorate the victims of Nazism, Fascism and Communism. ⢠to launch a disc
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON THE OCCASION OF THE EUROPEAN DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF TOTALITARIAN REGIMES On 22 and 23 August 2016 Bratislava will host the Ministerial Conference on the occasion of the European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes, an event organised under the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU.* The conference aims:
to commemorate the victims of Nazism, Fascism and Communism to launch a discussion on the problem of growing radicalisation (including political radicalisation) in Europe and exchange best practices in addressing this phenomenon through both preventive and punitive measures to identify further measures which could be taken at European level to fight growing radicalisation
The event will begin on Monday 22 August with a commemorative flower ceremony devoted to the victims of totalitarian regimes that will take place at the Gate of Freedom monument below Devín Castle. The ceremony will be attended by representatives of the justice ministries and national memory institutes of the EU Member States. It will be opened with a speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice of the Slovak Republic, Ms Lucia Žitňanská. On Tuesday 23 August the conference will continue with working sessions at the Reduta building. The ministerial working session will be dedicated to ‘The Rise of Radicalisation in Europe’. The meeting will be chaired by Ms Žitňanská and will also be attended by European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracsics. The afternoon session will primarily see national memory institutes and non-profit organisations debate ways of using the criminal justice system to deal with crimes committed by totalitarian regimes.
* In October 2008 the European Parliament issued a declaration proposing that 23 August be proclaimed the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism (the day on which the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed in 1939). This proposal was approved in 2009, and we have since remembered the victims of totalitarian regimes annually on 23 August. This European day focuses on cherishing the memory of the victims of mass deportations and exterminations while strengthening democracy, peace and stability in Europe.
