Sites of Conscience from Past to Future, From Memory to Action
Speakers: Elizabeth Silkes (Executive Director, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience)
Ayşe Gül Altınay (Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies, Sabancı University)
Date: 23 April 2021, Friday, 18.30 (Istanbul, GMT+3)
23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory, a space for remembrance, dialogue, reflection, confrontation and sharing has become a meeting and communication point for many individuals from different identities, age groups and professions. 23.5 is turning two years old on April 23.5, 2021.
On the occasion of its anniversary, we are organizing a conversation with the Executive Director of International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, Elizabeth Silkes and professor of anthropology and gender studies Ayşe Gül Altınay joined by the team of 23.5 on Friday, April 23rd at 18:30.
The conversation titled ‘Sites of Conscience From the Past to Future, From Memory to Action’ will address the meaning of sites of conscience in today’s world, the role that sites of conscience play in turning memory to action, the transformative impact of sites of conscience on children and youth, the learning, solidarity and activism opportunities the Coalition provides and the transformation that the pandemic generated in the field of memorialization.
The conversation will be held on Zoom and there will be simultaneous translation from Turkish to English. The event will be live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Foundation both in English and Turkish and only in Turkish on the Facebook, Twitter accounts of the Foundation.
You can fill out the form below to take an active part in the conversation and to ask questions.
If you have further questions, you can email us from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Elizabeth Silkes
Executive Director
International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
As Executive Director of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, Elizabeth Silkes guides the strategic growth of a thriving consortium of 300 museums, historic sites and memory initiatives in 65 countries. Through regional and issue-based networks, the Coalition supports Sites of Conscience across the globe in developing innovative civic engagement, transitional justice and human rights programs through exhibit design and methodological guidance, peer-learning exchanges, project grants, and joint advocacy initiatives. Prior to joining the Coalition, Elizabeth served as CEO of Cinereach, a foundation supporting film and media projects focused on social change, and as Executive Director of FilmAid International, a humanitarian relief organization using film and video to address the needs of refugees and other displaced communities. Prior to joining FilmAid, she led the major gifts program at Amnesty International USA to record growth while advocating for human rights in the US and abroad. Her extensive experience with community-based memory and media projects gives her a unique perspective on the power of the personal story to move audiences from past to present and memory to action. As a featured speaker at conferences and workshops around the world, Elizabeth has addressed issues ranging from psycho-social relief initiatives in displaced communities to the role of memory in creating lasting cultures of peace and human rights in post-conflict settings and emerging democracies. She has served on the board of ICOM-US, the U.S. National Committee of the International Council of Museums; as an International Advisor to the Accounts of the Conflict project at the University of Ulster INCORE; as an international advisor to UNESCO; and a member of the Law Advisory Council for the Fetzer Institute.
Ayşe Gül Altınay
Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies
Sabancı University
Ayşe Gül Altınay teaches anthropology, cultural studies and gender studies courses at Sabancı University and coordinates the programs "Curious Steps: Gender and Memory Walks of Istanbul" and "Transformative Activism: Rethinking Gender and Politics" at SU Gender (Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center). Altınay’s research has focused on memory, violence, militarism, gender and transformative activism. Her publications in memory studies include The Grandchildren: The Hidden Legacy of "Lost" Armenians in Turkey (with Fethiye Çetin, trans. Maureen Freely, 2014), Gendered Wars, Gendered Memories: Feminist Conversations on War, Genocide and Political Violence (with Andrea Petö, 2016) and Women Mobilizing Memory (co-edited with Maria-Jose Contreras, Marianne Hirsch, Jean Howard, Banu Karaca and Alisa Solomon, 2019). Having volunteered at the Hrant Dink Foundation since its first days, Ayşe Gül Altınay continues to serve on the Advisory Board of the Foundation and of the 23.5 Hrant Dink Memory Site.
