Motion for a Resolution by
the Committee on Culture and Education Towards a new culture of remembrance: Facing the shades of our past. Several European countries promote the positive aspects of their history without acknowledging their most critical legacies. Since this sanitisation of the past has detrimental impacts on society at large, how best can the culture and education sector adapt to reverse the trend? What concrete steps can be taken at both European and national level to improve public recognition of those who have suffered from oppression, colonisation and crimes against humanity? Submitted by:
Jona Bako (AL), Luca Barriviera (IT), Helena Burm (BE), Mihai Cosmin Iacob (RO), Damla Kanalan (NL), Andirani Kardatou (GR), Renne Kiljala (FI), Lučka Koprivnjak (SL), Maja Kwasny (LU), Kaisa Lindström (SE), Kacper Lubiewski (PL), Mila Rybtsova (UA), Valeria Stylianou (CY), Lisa Weinberger (AT), Lena Kreft (Chairperson, DE)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising the lack of teaching in critical thinking in the current educational system regarding past historical events, B. Taking into consideration that partiality from educational institutions and media outlets can have strong impacts on societal perceptions,
1. Asks Member States to organise exchange programmes for the descendants of perpetrators and victims of past crimes to improve relationships; 2. Recommends Member States to integrate in the educational system:
a)
spaces for neutral, open, and respectful discussions on European and national history,
b)
a module for teachers on impartial and objective teaching methods;
3. Invites Member States to:
a)
b)
introduce media campaigns to inform citizens about past crimes against humanity, ensure the preservation of historical information in the form of documentaries, books, and TV channels;
4. Requests Member States to provide funds for the already existing non-governmental organisations that tackle remembrance culture and social campaigns; 5. Directs the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) to supervise remembrance programmes of Member States to prevent sanitisation of past crimes; 6. Further directs the DG EAC to:
a)
encourage unbiased and internationally-minded education,
b)
increase awareness about European history;
7. Hopes for Member States to develop their legal frameworks to sanction extreme political positions such as those supported by far-left and far-right groups; 8. Urges countries to officially recognise tragic historical events like Srebrenica and the Armenian Genocide;
C. Noting with deep concern that the school curricula of Member States are often narrowed to the national perspective, are subject to bias, and often lack information about general European history,
9. Further requests Member States to promote the European Day of Remembrance against authoritarian regimes on the 23rd of August;
D. Deeply concerned by the passive attitude of society towards the rise of nationalistic parties which promote xenophobic, anti-semitic and racist stances,
10. Further invites Member States which have committed crimes against humanity to apologise to those who were victimised;
E. Deeply regretting the sanitisation of past crimes committed by regimes in the name of their country, operated by countries such as Poland and Hungary,
11. Reminds the UN of the importance of maintaining institutions like the ICTY;
F. Alarmed by the insufficient cooperation between Member States regarding the complete representation of past events, G. Viewing with appreciation that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has prosecuted 165 cases regarding crimes against humanity since 1946, H. Expressing its satisfaction that international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) have set up tribunals like the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), I. Noting with concern the existence of few state, private sector or educational programmes for the general public on the topic of crimes against humanity, and their inadequate implementation, J. Fully believing that Member States would benefit from a shared approach at remembering past crimes, K. Noting with approval the actions taken by the House of European History towards critical reflection about common historical processes and their diverging perceptions,
12. Trusts the ICJ to make objective judgements for ongoing, unresolved conflicts such as was done with the Application of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia vs Serbia); 13. Appeals to the Member States to collaborate when it comes to matters regarding remembrance that can serve as a catalyst to better international relations; 14. Endorses the establishment of the Europe for Citizens programme and further encourages the implementation of such projects; 15. Recommends the European Parliament to enable access to fact-based European history to all Member States:
a)
through establishing institutions like the House of European History within Member States,
b)
creating and maintaining a database with information from the House of European History.
L. Viewing with appreciation the exchange of methodologies and experiences between institutions, facilitated by the European Remembrance Symposium, M. Believing that individuals should not be held responsible for the crimes of their ancestors;
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Hamburg 2019 | 91st International Session of the European Youth Parliament
Hamburg 2019 | 91st International Session of the European Youth Parliament
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