In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the critical role that heritage sites, particularly those associated with memories of recent conflicts, play in fostering peacebuilding and resilient civic institutions.

For over twenty-five years, Sites of Conscience have been committed to safeguarding these sites, viewing them as essential pillars for peace and the preservation of shared civic values. Today, as the preservation of memory faces increasing global challenges and sites tied to complex histories become symbolic points of public debate, World Heritage (WH) designation offers much-needed protection. WH status not only helps prevent the erasure of underrepresented histories, but also resists attempts to distort, deny, or rewrite complex pasts.

Since 2015, the World Heritage Centre has seen a notable rise in nominations for Sites Associated with the Memory of Recent Conflict (SAMRC) – many of them Sites of Conscience. These nominations, deeply rooted in collective memory and intangible heritage, are challenging and expanding the traditional definition of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), the cornerstone of World Heritage recognition.

In this context, the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) hosted a virtual roundtable to collectively explore the challenges and opportunities involved in safeguarding difficult memories within the UNESCO heritage framework.

The session featured three speakers from the ICSC community, who brought first-hand experience with the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process:

• Alissandra Cummins, ICSC Board Member and Director of the Museum and Historical Society of Barbados (Barbados)
• Nisay Hang, Director of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Cambodia) – currently under consideration for designation
• Mayki Gorosito, Former Executive Director of the Museo Sitio de Memoria ESMA – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination (Argentina) – designated a World Heritage Site in September 2023.

As the global conversation on heritage expands, it is vital that sites of memory, especially those rooted in difficult or contested pasts, are recognized within the UNESCO framework. Their inclusion affirms the importance of documenting and preserving history, encouraging accountability, and supporting collective healing for future generations.