The Virtual Living Memorial aims to provide a forum for survivors of rape and violence. It seeks to:
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to put words to the wounds caused by rape and violence ;
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enable survivors of rape to (re)find their place in their own history and in History;
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develop tools for liberating words and suffering.
The Virtual Living Memorial is intended to be a multi-faceted and complementary structure with an inter/transdisciplinary approach. It offers a cross-disciplinary approach based on data collection and testimonies (from survivors and carers), which feed into 3 main areas:
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axis 1: remembering and collecting testimonies. In particular, we plan to develop a variety of media, such as a video documentary or memorial objects in the form of photographs of the living environment, annotated collages or artists' notebooks.
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axis 2: educational and museum construction. We plan to build a holistic and immersive pathway of reparation (medical, psychological, legal), reconstruction (identity, individual, community) and reintegration (family, social, psycho-social, socio-economic).
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axis 3: interdisciplinary crossovers. Our work is mutually enriched by civilisational, cultural, didactic, historical, linguistic, medical, pedagogical, psychological and translational contributions. These complementary approaches will make it possible to draw up recommendations, for example in terms of collecting testimonies or expressing remembrance.
The Virtual Living Memorial is supported by a wide range of partners:
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reception and reintegration centres: Grace Agenda (Kenya), Centre Kitumaini and Cité de la Joie (DRC);
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human rights organisations, in particular the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation (Netherlands);
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local associations: Asfad (which supports women in difficulty), Réseau Louis Guilloux (a health network that takes in people from migrant and/or precarious backgrounds);
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University funding: 5 Rennes 2 research units (ACE, ERIMIT, LIDILE, LP3C, TEMPORA), Rennes 2 Research Commission, TISSAGE (TrIptyque Science Société pour AGir Ensemble).
Project leaders : Renée Dickason (ACE), Franck Barbin (LIDILE).
