History City of Zurich wants to move away from a male culture of remembrance
The city of Zurich wants to present its past in a more diverse way. Instead of rich white men, women and migrants are also to find a place in the culture of remembrance.
10.11.2025, 14:30
SDA
The city council is proposing annual expenditure of CHF 375,000, as announced on Monday. This includes, for example, support for civil society actors and a new specialist office.
The strategy is based, among other things, on discussions about Zurich's colonial past. For example, there were calls to remove Alfred Escher's monument in front of the main train station because he had profited from slavery through his family. The planned covering of two house inscriptions with the word "Mohr", which was perceived as discriminatory, also caused great debate.
The report recommends that the removal of monuments, street names or depictions should be considered in cases of hardship. According to the report, Zurich is the first city in Switzerland to create a culture of remembrance.
