Scholars and experts from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and 15 other countries attending the third International Symposium on Human Rights and Muselogy released the Nanjing Consensus in a bid to strengthen the mutual trust and exchange among the world’s anti-fascist war memorial museums and build a common memory.
The consensus urges people in the world to respect history, cherish peace, uphold the achievements of World War II victory, and maintain the post-war peace.
The responsibilities and functions of the museums and memorials should be brought into full play concerning the protection of cultural heritages, historical research, cultural exchange and humanistic education, the consensus said.
Museums and memorials should play an important role in the cultivation of the correct view of history among the youth by providing rich and varied learning opportunities and exchanging practical activities for the teenagers, according to the consensus.
Museums and memorials should also carry out in-depth cooperation and exchanges to promote open dialogue, both domestic and international, regarding history, peace and other issues for the creation of lasting peace, prosperity and better future, the consensus said.
The Third International Seminar on Human Rights and Museology opened Tuesday in Nanjing, where scholars discussed the protection of peace and human rights ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre.
The two-day seminar was attended by nearly 100 human rights researchers and representatives of museums from 18 countries and regions, including Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea and South Africa.
[voice over]Topics discussed included "Missions and responsibilities of museums and memorials in engaging in the education on peace and human rights" and "Approaches and methods of intensifying international exchanges and cooperation to construct common memories for humanity".
On Dec 13, 1937, Japanese troops captured Nanjing, then China's capital, and began a slaughter lasting more than 40 days. About 300,000 civilians and Chinese soldiers, who had laid down their arms, were murdered.
The seminar was hosted by the foundation along with the China Museums Association and the Jiangsu Association for International Cultural Exchange.
