19 July 2026 (Siena, Italy)
On 19 July 2026 ATRIUM was invited to be present at the launch, at the University of Siena, of the Siena Recommendations on Contested Histories and National Minorities of the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE. These recommendations give international guidance on conflict prevention approaches with the aim of reducing tensions from contestations related to historical memory. They were compiled on the basis of expert consultations and are one of 10 sets of thematic Recommendations and Guidelines that are aimed at preventing and easing tensions involving national minority issues.
ATRIUM participated in one of the expert consultation initiatives (also held in Siena in October 2025) co-organized by the OSCE, University of Siena and the Contested Histories project of Euroclio. Patrick Leech of the ATRIUM Scientific Committee participated in the consultation with a presentation on the work of ATRIUM on the architectural and urban legacies of totalitarian regimes and was present at the launch of the Recommendations. Marielouise Jansen, also a member of the Scientific Committee of ATRIUM, collaborated with the High Commissioner on National Minorities of OSCE in her capacity as director of the Contested Histories initiative, and coordinated one of the round tables of the launch.
Find out more on the following links: Event page | Siena Recommendations – publication | Livestream/recording | Press Release