Page 358 - Proceedings book

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3.1. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)

The USHMM, established in 1993 in Washington, D.C., serves as the United States ’
official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. The museum documents the

systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jews and other targeted groups

by Nazi Germany through detailed exhibitions, survivor testimonies, and historical
artifacts. Beyond its role in historical preservation, the USHMM is committed to

fostering remembrance as a moral imperative. Its mission emphasizes confronting
hatred, preventing future genocides, and promoting universal human rights and

dignity. Through educational initiatives, public programs, and research, the USHMM
positions itself as an active agent in combating denial, promoting critical engagement

with history, and encouraging a global commitment to the principles of justice and

humanity.

3.2. Puthukuduyirippu Victory Memorial and War Museum (PVMWM)
The PVMWM, opened in 2013 in Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka, commemorates the military

defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)—a group designated as a
terrorist organization by the Sri Lankan government and several international actors—

and the conclusion of the country’s decades-long civil war. Curated and maintained

by the Sri Lankan military, the museum’s exhibits prominently showcase military
achievements, recovered weaponry, and visual narratives highlighting the

preservation of national sovereignty. While intended as a tribute to the armed forces

and a symbol of national unity, the museum has faced criticism for its selective
representation of the conflict, its minimal acknowledgment of Tamil civilian suffering,

and its limited engagement with broader transitional justice and reconciliation
processes in the post-war period.

4. Results

USHMM reviews

(Fig.1) emphasize

the museum’s focus
on human dignity,

empathy, and
memory

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