Network of Concerned Historians

Last updated

Network of Concerned Historians
Founded1995;30 years ago (1995)
Type Non-profit, NGO
Focus History, freedom of information, freedom of speech, right to truth, international law
HeadquartersGroningen, Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
Website https://concernedhistorians.org/

The Network of Concerned Historians (NCH) is a human rights network providing a bridge between international human rights organizations campaigning for censored or persecuted historians (and other concerned with the past) and the global community of historians. Its work consists of two core activities: the collection of information on persecuted and censored historians; and the dissemination of urgent actions for persecuted and censored historians (and others who write about the past). [1] [2] The NCH publishes an Annual Report covering countries around the globe. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Background

History

Antoon de Baets, founder of the NCH Antoon de baets (aug 2024).jpg
Antoon de Baets, founder of the NCH

NCH was created in 1995 by Antoon De Baets, prof. em. of History, Ethics and Human Rights by Special Appointment of the European Association of History Educators (EuroClio) at the University of Groningen (2014–) and President of the International Commission for the History and Theory of Historiography (2022–). [7] [8] It was partly inspired by a roundtable titled "Power, Liberty and the Work of the Historian" at the 1995 International Congress of Historical Sciences in Montreal. [9] [10] In the Summer of 2020, Ruben Zeeman, a graduate student of Comparative History at the Central European University, joined NCH as co-editor. [11]

Affiliates

In 2001, NCH became one of the founding members of the Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR). It has fraternal ties with Academia Solidaria of the Historia a Debate at the University of Santiago de Compostela (since 2003) and with the Scholar Rescue Fund of the Institute of International Education in New York (since 2008). [12] [13] It is further affiliated with several international human rights organizations, including Scholars at Risk (since 2007), the Science and Human Rights Coalition of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (since 2008), the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (since 2011), the European Association of History Educators (since 2012), the International Students of History Association (since 2013), Contested Histories (since 2021) and PEN America (since 2024). [14] [15] [16] Its website is regularly archived by the Center for Human Rights Documentation & Research at Columbia University. [17]

Structure

Mission

NCH is inspired by article 1 of the Constitution of the International Committee of Historical Sciences (1926, as amended in 1992 and 2005): “It [the Committee] shall defend freedom of thought and expression in the field of historical research and teaching, and is opposed to the misuse of history and shall use every means at its disposal to ensure the ethical professional conduct of its members.” [18]

It works according to four principles:

  1. Universality; it works for bona fide historians everywhere, regardless of where they live, in democratic or non-democratic countries...
  2. Impartiality; ...and regardless of who they are, mainstream historians or their opponents.
  3. Independence; it receives no subsidies.
  4. Distance; its presented information does not imply that NCH shares the views of historians (or others) mentioned in it. [19] [20]

Topics

Its work revolves around five core topics:

  1. History, including limitations to archival access, legal cases against historians, politicization of history education curricula and textbooks and censorship of historical research and popular history production (e.g. novels, films, theater, internet).
  2. Memory, including limitations to commemorations and access to cemeteries and memorials, and the destruction of cultural heritage.
  3. Freedom of information and expression , including laws infringing on the freedom of information and freedom of expression, defamation and libel cases and cases on privacy and secrecy.
  4. Right to the truth , including the obstruction of the operations of transitional justice and truth commissions, the passing of impunity laws and the forestalling of reparations and reconciliation measures
  5. Activism by historians and others concerned with the past, including political, journalistic and human rights advocacy. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

Among the professions represented in NCH's work are historians, archivists, archaeologists, anthropologists, students, history teachers, librarians, truth commission members, journalists, authors and film makers. [29]

Activities

Annual Reports

NCH publishes an Annual Report documenting instances of censorship that fall within its mandate and happened globally in the preceding year. The Report is published every August and contains on average 150 pages covering 100+ countries. The Annual Reports have been published since 1995 and are all available on NCH's website. [30] In its 2024 report, the regional distribution was: Europe/Central Asia (36); Middle East/North Africa (16); Americas (14); Sub-Saharan Africa (24); Asia/Pacific (21). [31] Its documentation is based on information provided by trusted news and human rights organizations, including various United Nations sources; Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Index on Censorship, PEN International, Article 19; and BBC News, New York Times , The Guardian , Le Monde , and Al Jazeera. [32]

Campaigns for Historians

In addition to regular documentation, it also disseminates campaigns on history-related topics with its community of around 3530 addressees (January 2025). Past campaigns included letter writing campaigns set up by Amnesty International and petitions shared by Memorial (society). In 2024, it shared campaigns for the Sierra Leonean historian and journalist Chernoh Alpha Bah, the imprisoned President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (Tunisia) Sihem Bensedrine, and the detained Talysh historian Igbal Abilov. [33]

Further Resources

Whereas archiving documentation on the censorship of history worldwide and campaigning for history-related topics are its core operations, NCH also collects information on a variety of other history-related subjects:

  1. Memorial: It compiles a memorial for historians killed for political reasons from Ancient times to the present. [34]
  2. Legal cases: It collects history-related cases, including those related to time, memory and the work of historians. [35]
  3. Defamation cases: It brings together defamation cases targeting or brought by historians. [36]
  4. Codes of Ethics; It gathers codes of ethics for historians, archaeologists and archivists. [37]
  5. Human Rights Resources: It provides a database of human rights resources for historians, including those documenting academic freedom, basic human rights, international condemnations, copyright, cultural rights, democracy, disappearances, responsibilities, education, right to be forgotten, freedom of expression, access to information, past and future generations, genocide, hate speech, heritage, holocaust, international humanitarian law, impunity, journalism, judicialization of history, memory laws, museums, national security, peace, time bars, privacy, reparation, reputation, tradition, right to the truth, victims, wills. [38]
  6. UN resolutions: It gives an overview of United Nations General Assembly Resolutions related to history (1946–Present). [39]
  7. Historians and the Nobel Peace Prize (1901–Present) [40]
  8. List of Historically Informed Political Leaders [41]
  9. Political Figures with a Historian's Background Indicted by International Tribunals [42]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariza</span> Portuguese fado singer (born 1973)

Marisa dos Reis Nunes, known professionally as Mariza, is a Portuguese fado singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicagoland Speedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

Chicagoland Speedway is an inactive 1.5 mi (2.4 km) tri-oval intermediate speedway in Joliet, Illinois. It has hosted various major races throughout its existence, including NASCAR and IndyCar races. The track is currently owned by NASCAR, and features a 47,000-seat capacity as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Wrestling Association (Puerto Rico)</span> Professional wrestling promotion

The International Wrestling Association is a conglomerate of professional wrestling promotions that originated in Puerto Rico and currently operates there. Founded in 1994 by wrestler promoter Víctor Quiñones and wrestler Miguel Perez Jr. it quickly entered an agreement to serve as a development territory for the World Wrestling Federation that lasted until 2001. During its first decade, IWA grew to rival the long-standing World Wrestling Council (WWC). Its business model relies on pushing younger talents, using veterans and foreign wrestlers to get them over with the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Motor Speedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a 1.058 mi (1.703 km) oval track in Loudon, New Hampshire. It has hosted various major races throughout its existence, including NASCAR, IndyCar, modified races, and the Loudon Classic. The venue has a capacity of 44,000 as of 2024. New Hampshire Motor Speedway is currently owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) and is led by track general manager David McGrath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockingham Speedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

Rockingham Speedway and Entertainment Complex is a 1.017-mile (1.637 km) D-shaped oval track in Rockingham, North Carolina. The track has held a variety of events since its opening in 1965, primarily races sanctioned by NASCAR. It has a 32,000-seat capacity as of 2012. Rockingham Speedway is currently owned by Rockingham Properties, LLC, and is led by Rockingham Properties majority owner Dan Lovenheim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silva Kaputikyan</span> Armenian poet, writer and political activist

Silva Kaputikyan was an Armenian poet and political activist. One of the best-known Armenian writers of the twentieth century, she is recognized as "the leading poetess of Armenia" and "the grand lady of twentieth century Armenian poetry". Although a member of the Communist Party, she was a noted advocate of Armenian national causes.

The National Film Award for Best Direction is an honour presented annually at India's National Film Awards ceremony by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), an organisation set up by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Since 1967, the award is given by a national panel appointed annually by the NFDC to a director for their work within Indian cinema. It is presented by the president of India at a ceremony held in New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shin Yea-ji (figure skater, born 1988)</span> South Korean figure skater (born 1988)

Shin Yea-ji is a South Korean figure skating coach and choreographer and former competitive figure skater. She is the 2007 South Korean national silver medalist. She competed for two seasons on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, and placed fourth at the 2007 Winter Universiade. Her highest placement at an ISU Championship was 8th at the 2007 World Junior Championships.

Dawit Isaak is a Swedish-Eritrean playwright, journalist and writer who has been held in prison in Eritrea since 2001 without trial and is considered a traitor by the Eritrean government. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his immediate and unconditional release. For years, he was the only Swedish citizen held as a prisoner of conscience. As of 2023, he is considered to be one of the world's longest continuously detained journalists.

Esala Masi is a retired Fijian footballer, who played as a striker.

Day for Darfur is an international advocacy campaign that works to bring together activists in cities around the globe in calling for action on the crisis in Darfur, western Sudan.

The government of Malawi does not systematically filter or block Internet content. However, the government has blocked access to news sites and social media in isolated incidents in efforts to quell protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laos national football team results</span>

This article details the fixtures and results of the Laos national football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UPR Info</span>

UPR Info is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) headquartered in Switzerland. The organisation main goal is to raise awareness and provide see capacity-building tools to the different actors of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, such as United Nations Member States, NGOs, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) and civil society actors. It was established in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Mancz</span> American football player (born 1992)

Gregory Brian Mancz is an American professional football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 2015 to 2022, primarily with the Houston Texans. He was lightly recruited out of high school in 2010 and ended up playing college football for the Toledo Rockets of the University of Toledo, where he was a four-year starter at several positions along the offensive line. He earned various All-American and All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) honors during his college career. His senior season in 2014, he won the Vern Smith Leadership Award, which is given to the best player in the MAC. Mancz went undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft and signed with the Texans shortly thereafter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammar Belhimer</span> Algerian journalist and author

Ammar Belhimer is an Algerian public law teacher and journalist, who had served as Minister of Communication and spokesperson in the first Djerad government since 4 January 2020, and then in the first Benabderrahmane government from January 4, 2020 until November 11, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somos Nada</span> 2021 single by Christina Aguilera

"Somos Nada" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for her ninth studio and second Spanish-language album, Aguilera (2022). It was written by Aguilera, Federico Vindver, Mario Domm, Sharlene Taulé, and was produced by Rafa Arcaute and Vindver, co-produced Afo Verde and Jean Rodríguez as a vocal producer. The song was released through Sony Music Latin as the album's second single on November 18, 2021. The song is featured on the album's first part, La Fuerza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Commission for the History and Theory of Historiography</span> Organization of historians and scholars

The International Commission for the History and Theory of Historiography (ICHTH) is an international non-profit organization affiliated with the International Committee of Historical Sciences (ICHS). Established in 1980, the Commission is composed of historians, theorists of history and other specialists in related fields, who work together on a global scale to promote research and the exchange of ideas in two core areas: the history of historiography and the philosophy of historiography. Among other activities, it regularly organizes conferences and workshops, promotes publications and awards prizes for books and doctoral theses.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Mission". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 23 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ Seybold.
  3. ↑ "NCH Annual Reports 1995-2024". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 26 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Contre l'oubli: la solidarité avec les historiens persécutés: Un entretien avec Antoon De Baets" (PDF). Clio: Revue de l’Association des Historiens de l’UCL. Retrieved 10 January 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ Mikaelian 2012.
  6. ↑ Zeeman 2022b.
  7. ↑ Gaete.
  8. ↑ "Board". International Commission for the History and Theory of Historiography. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ Leonzo 1996.
  10. ↑ De Baets 2006b.
  11. ↑ "Roundtables on 'Censorship in History Education' Address Academic Freedom". Central European University. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ De Baets 2005b.
  13. ↑ "Partner Organizations". Institute of International Education. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ↑ "Affiliations". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ "Network of Concerned Historians (NCH)". International Students of History Association. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ "Getting Involved" (PDF). Scholars at Risk. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "Human Rights, Archived by Columbia University Library". Center for Human Rights, Documentation & Research. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ↑ "Constitution". International Committee of Historical Sciences. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ↑ "Mandate" (PDF). Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ↑ De Baets 2005a.
  21. ↑ Vann 2010.
  22. ↑ Almutawa 2014.
  23. ↑ De Baets 2019.
  24. ↑ Gaunt 2019.
  25. ↑ De Baets 2023.
  26. ↑ Zeeman 2023a.
  27. ↑ Zeeman 2023b.
  28. ↑ Zeeman 2023c.
  29. ↑ "Coverage of Issues" (PDF). Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ↑ "NCH Annual Reports 1995–Present". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ↑ "Statistics" (PDF). Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ↑ Yannie 2011.
  33. ↑ "NCH Campaigns 1995–Present". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ↑ "Memorial". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ↑ "Legal Cases". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ↑ "Historians & Defamation Cases". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ↑ "Codes of Ethics for Historians, Archaeologists and Archivists". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  38. ↑ "Human Rights Resources for Historians". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ↑ "United Nations General Assembly Resolutions Related to History (1946–Present)". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ↑ "Historians and the Nobel Peace Prize (1901–Present)". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  41. ↑ "List of Historically Informed Political Leaders". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ↑ "Political Figures with a Historian's Background Indicted by International Tribunals". Network of Concerned Historians. Retrieved 25 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.