In the location's words:

The Bautzner Straße Dresden Memorial is a place of remembrance, education and encounter. It commemorates the victims of political persecution in the Soviet occupation zone and the GDR, documents their fates and makes them permanently accessible to the public. It also offers those affected a space for exchange and encounters.

At the same time, the memorial researches the history of the historical site. It examines the causes, structures, methods and consequences of dictatorships and the ideologies on which they were based. The results are incorporated into the historical and political educational work. The reference to fundamental and human rights forms a central level of reflection, whereby a connection to current political and social developments can be established.

The memorial maintains cooperation with many partner organizations, educational institutions, museums, archives and associations from Saxony, Germany and neighbouring countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The cross-border exchange focuses in particular on work with contemporary witnesses, the history of political persecution and opposition as well as the transformation of the system in East Germany and the states of the former "Eastern Bloc".

In addition, the memorial offers educational, discussion and other events, as well as exhibitions, as an opportunity to engage with a wide range of historical and current topics.