The commemoration is to be located on Jean Rey square, in the heart of Brussels, between the European Parliament and the Council of Europe buildings. Thus, the next step on the way to the initiative to erect a monument in honour of the Victims of Totalitarianism was made, as called for by the European Parliament in 2009. The uniqueness of the project stems from the fact that it will be the first international memorial dedicated to millions of victims of fascism, national socialism and communism in Europe. Among the winners there were also projects by Sabina Tanovic and Dario Kristic from Holland, as well as Mantas Maziliauskas, Povilas Šorys and Gitany Stankiene from Lithuania. A team of Polish designers under the leadership of Andrzej Pawlik was also among the distinguished guests.
The idea of the winning commemoration is based on the motif of the Victims' letters, which will cover Jean Rey square in an enlarged form. During the work on the project, the authors gathered nearly 40,000 such accounts.
The Institute of National Remembrance was represented by Adam Siwek, Director of the Office of Commemorating the Struggle and Martyrdom and Agnieszka Jędrzak, head of the IPN’s Division of International Relations at the President’s Office.