The inaugural conference took place on 15+16 September 2010 at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, where 98 delegates from 19 countries discussed many perspectives on museums and human rights. The conference ran under the patronage of UNESCO and the overall theme of the conference was Museums Fighting for Human Rights, which was divided into four sub-themes:
How can communities become active citizens through museum programmes and educational initiatives? When do museum visitors change from being passive visitors to active campaigners? Can museums be the catalyst for communities to make a difference to local, national and international campaigns?
What have we learnt from developing exhibitions and permanent collections around subjects that have at times been regarded as the unrepresentable? What are the ethical and moral dimensions which museums must negotiate when focusing on these issues? Find out more about the conference by clicking on the links below:
Papers and PresentationsYou can download papers and presentations of the conference below.
Day One: Museums as active campaignersOpening Speech Download paper as Word Document David Fleming, Director, National Museums Liverpool, Founding FIHRM President Museums, moralities and human rights Download PowerPoint Presentation Richard Sandell, Director/Head of Department, School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester, UK |
Session 1: Creating a voice for human rights |
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights Gathering Project - Setting the stage Download PowerPoint Presentation
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The Aegis and Role of the first Holocaust Centre on the African Continent Download paper as Word Document
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Promoting human rights and social justice – the Museums of Malawi Download paper as Word Document Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Session 2: Memorialisation and Contemporary Human Rights |
The Struggle for Human Rights, the Public Awareness and the Community Programs Download paper as Word Document Download PowerPoint Presentation
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The Museum of Genocide Victims – Attiudes towards Human Rights today Download paper as Word Document Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Kigali Memorial Centre
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Session 3: Diversity, Social Justice and Education in Human Rights Museums
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From Memory to Action: How Holocaust education can change our response to genocide today Download PowerPoint Presentation
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White Bus Action 1945 and experiences – what have we learned? Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Waikato Museum – celebrating cultural diversity |
Session 4: Making a difference Campaigning Museums
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Musée d’Histoire de Nantes (title TBC) |
The object of culture Françoise Verges, Director for Maison des civilisations et de l’unité réunionnaise, President of the Comite pour la mémoire et l'Histoire de l'Esclavage, Réunion |
The Virtual Museum of Human Rights Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Museums Fighting For Human Rights Keynote: Kevin Bales |
Day TwoChildren Young People andHuman Rights
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Overview of Education activities at National Museums Liverpool Download paper as Word Document Download PowerPoint Presentation Carol Rogers, Executive Director Education, Communities and Visitors |
Make the Link, Break the Chain – Museums working with campaign agencies Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Holocaust education in post-Apartheid South Africa - impetus for social activism or a short-lived catharsis? Download paper as Word Document
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Active Communities
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Overview of Working with Communities at NML Download PowerPoint Presentation Claire Benjamin, Head of Communities, National Museums Liverpool |
Social Media for Social Change
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When working with communities is it the ownership of perspective that is the biggest question needing an answer? Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Liverpool case study - International Slavery Museum
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Exhibiting Sensitive Histories
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Overview of the International Slavery Museum Download Paper as Word Document Download PowerPoint Presentation
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A new Museum of Independence Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Designing for Hearts and Minds: The Crafting of Slavery Histories at the International African American Museum Download PowerPoint Presentation Paul Williams, Senior Content Developer, Ralph Applebaum Associates, New York, USA |
Continuing collecting efforts for the Holocaust Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum Download PowerPoint Presentation
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Marketplace of Ideas - Poster sessions
Poster sessions are widely used at conferences to replace concurrent sessions of oral presentations of papers. It is a visual and concise method of presenting one's work. All posters will be displayed in the conference space and will be available for viewing by the public throughout the conference.
- Warrington Young Roots Education about Slavery (WYRES) project: a real partnership between museums, creatives and eductors helps young people uncover real answers to real questions no one dared to face before
View Poster as PDF
Alexandra Robinson, University of Liverpool
- Museums as venues and initiators of cultural mediation
Hazel Brookes, Researcher – Museum Consultant, Chepstow Museum, Chepstow, St Kitts - Sensitive Histories in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Rhonda Hinter, Head: Exhibit Research, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg Canada - Documenting Historic Sites of Struggle and Liberation in the New South Africa
Associate Professor of Africana Studies, Department of Africana Studies, Digital Humanities Initiative (DHi), Co-Director, New York, USA - Displaying Records of Slavery in St Kitts-Nevis
Victoria O’Flaherty, Director of Archives, National Archives, Basseterre
- UNESCO Associated Schools & Programme
Anne Breivik, UK National Coordinator, UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) & Programme Secretary (Culture), UK National Commission for UNESCO
- Precious cargo: a travelling museum providing artistic and educational exhibitions and programming
Cheryl Ann Bolden, Artist/Curator, Association Musée des Diasporas Africaines
Conference Report and Feedback
Click here to read about the outcomes of the conference. (Coming soon)
Here are just some of the comments that we received after the conference:
Overall Comments
"A long overdue event – a fantastic concept with enormous potential for HR and museums globally."
"Inspiring conference – groundbreaking"
"This was a great 2 days out, very stimulating. I’m sure positive ideas and actions will come out of it in my own work. Thank you"
"This is a fabulous initiative. I finally felt like I was with colleagues I wanted to speak with."
"Je tenais à vous remercier très sincèrement, ainsi que toute l’équipe de Liverpool, de cette très belle rencontre que vous avez initiée la semaine dernière. Le programme était passionnant et très bien agencé. Les débats ont aussi permis des échanges, qui n’attendent plus qu’à continuer. Et les contacts pris ont été, pour ma part, nombreux et fructueux, sur les questions de la traite et de l’esclavages essentiellement mais pas uniquement. Je ne taris pas d’éloges sur ces deux jours depuis que je suis rentrée. Vous nous direz quelle suite il vous semblera bon de donner à cette rencontre, le musée d’histoire de Nantes sera ravi d’y participer."
"I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the conference. It was inspirational and made me realise why I work in the museums sector and its very real potential to change lives and make a difference. I trust the federation can grow and move forward in the coming years and would like to pledge my support in any way I can to help make that happen."
"I would like to thank you for organizing the wonderful congress. I found it very creative happening, learned a great deal, and met many people. The organization was also perfect. My compliments".
"Thanks to all of you for a fantastic conference last week! It was very uplifting to listen to all the speakers and to discuss issues on human rights with colleagues from all over the world! The conference was also very well organized. FIHRM is a fantastic initiative."
"I wanted to thank and congratulate you and your team, for a wonderful conference. I left inspired. Thank you."
Tweets @FIHRM
To summarise: #fihrm inspiring, re-energising, galvanising, worthwhile. So well-organised and approachable, enthusiastic delegates.
@FIHRM Thanks for such an interesting and inspirational couple of days, really got a huge amount from the conference #fihrm
A very inspiring day at inaugural #fihrm conference. Important & innovative work from around the world
La reconnaissance de la diversité est une demande démocratique, pas une question de repentance mais de représentation et d'éducation #FIHRM
#FIHRM passionate belief in humanity and that if you ask people to do something to help change society, they will do it.
Partners and Support
The conference was generously granted UNESCO Patronage
Media Partner
Hotel Partner
Other Partners
