This May, W. Richard West Jr. announced his candidacy for President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). ICOM is the international organization of museums and museum professionals which is committed to the conservation, continuation and communication to society of the world’s natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible. Currently serving as one of ICOM’s two vice presidents, Mr. West’s experience, within and outside the museum community, will continue the success and progress of ICOM. As a member of the Board of the International Coalition, Mr. West has built partnerships across the fields of preservation, arts and culture, and human rights to support the efforts of Sites of Conscience in opening their historic spaces for new public dialogue on today’s issues. He has devoted his professional life and much of his personal life to working with American Indians on cultural, educational, legal and governmental issues. His expertise as Founding Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) has been critical in the development of the International Coalition’s Indian Boarding and Residential Schools Project, an effort to use the history of boarding and residential schools in the U.S. and Canada to address critical questions about contemporary issues facing Native communities. Please visit http://www.rickwestforicom.org to learn more about Mr. West’s background, qualifications and his vision for ICOM over the next three years. We hope you will support Mr. West with us, and invite you to follow and promote ‘Rick West for ICOM’ via Facebook.
Héctor Timerman, chair of the board of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience has been appointed as Argentina’s new Minister of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship. The International Coalition is delighted to congratulate Mr. Timerman on this new milestone in his illustrious career. Most recently serving as Ambassador of Argentina to the United States, Mr. Timerman is globally recognized for his efforts in human rights and democracy-building. During Argentina’s last dictatorship Mr. Timerman was exiled in the United Sates (1978-1983). He has developed an extensive career in journalism in both Argentina and the United States. Much of his work as a journalist reflected his commitment to raising awareness of the history and legacies of torture and detention in Argentina and around the world. He has continued this commitment as chair of the board of the International Coalition, advancing the role of Sites of Conscience as catalysts for building democracy across the globe. We wish Mr. Timerman continued success and look forward to his leadership as Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship.
Ruth J. Abram
LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT MUSEUM
United States
Sarwar Ali
LIBERATION WAR MUSEUM
Bangladesh
Doudou Diène
UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE (2002-2008)
Senegal
Sergei Kovalyov
MEMORIAL SOCIETY
Russia
Jean-Louis Luxen
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN
Belgium
Leigh Rix
CLINTON DEVON ESTATES
United Kingdom
Yasmin Sooka
FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
South Africa
Patricia Tappatá de Valdez
MEMORIA ABIERTA
Argentina
Héctor Timerman (Chair)
MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND WORSHIP
Argentina
W. Richard West
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
United States
Liz Ševčenko (Director, Secretariat)
United States
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