International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 2000–2015 Member Observer The cover image shows the ‘Wall of Portraits’, which forms part Countries Countries of the permanent exhibition at the Kazerne Dossin — Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human

Rights in Mechelen, . The wall shows over 25,800 Contents Argentina (2002) Albania (2014) deportees and spans four floors of the museum. The pictures (2001) (2015) of those who survived are shown in color while the pictures of those who perished are shown in black and white. For many Belgium (2005) (2012) of the deportees, not even a picture remains. The Stockholm (2009) El Salvador (2014) Declaration states, “Our commitment must be to remember (2005) The former Yugoslav the victims who perished, respect the survivors still with us, and reaffirm humanity’s common aspiration for mutual under- (2002) Republic of standing and justice.” Just as the Stockholm Declaration is (2004) Macedonia (2009) the IHRA’s founding document, so the persecutees form the core (2007) Moldova (2014) of IHRA’s mandate. It is therefore considered fitting that the victims and survivors, shown as individuals and not as a perse- (2010) Monaco (2015) cuted mass, occupy such a prominent place in this publication. (1999) (2009) Photo credit: © Christophe Ketels & Kazerne Dossin (1998) Turkey (2008) (2005) Uruguay (2013) (2002) Introduction — Dr. Kathrin Meyer 2 (2011) (1998) History of the IHRA — Sir Andrew Burns 4 (1999) Permanent Timeline 8 (2004) International (2002) Partners Stockholm Declaration 10 (2003) Reaffirmation Statement 12 The (1999) Conference on (2003) Jewish Material Is the IHRA Relevant? — Professor Yehuda Bauer 15 (1999) Claims Against IHRA Working Groups 18 (2004) Germany (2011) Council of Europe On the Need for — Professor Steven Katz 25 Slovakia (2005) European Union Working Definition of and Distortion 28 (2011) Agency for (2008) Fundamental IHRA Committees 31 (1998) Rights (FRA) Interview with Ben Helfgott 34 (2004) International United Kingdom (1998) Tracing Service (ITS) IHRA Multi-Year Work Plan 38 (1998) Organization for Grant Programme 42 Security and Co-operation in Permanent International Partners 47 Europe: Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights UNESCO

First edition. Printed in May 2015. Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 1 Introduction Dr Kathrin Meyer, IHRA Executive Secretary

15 years after the signing of the Stockholm Declaration, the publication you are holding in your hands has provided an opportunity to take stock of the achievements of our organization. Founded as the ‘Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research’ on 7 May, 1998, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has now grown into a professional international body — a unique network of experts and governments focusing on the sole man- date of Holocaust-related issues. From 2002–2007, my predecessor Karel Fracapane accompanied

the Task Force through the first crucial years of its existence, moving Karel Fracapane and Kathrin Meyer at the opening of the IHRA Permanent Office in 2008. Credit: IHRA from country to country with each of the rotating Chairmanships. Those first years were a very active time for theIHRA — the first decade saw The last 15 years have seen the IHRA find its feet in the international a landslide of countries join the organization as the majority of European arena — the respective Chairs have embarked on outreach activities with countries sought membership. And as the IHRA grew, so too did the an increasingly global view, our experts are focusing more on content- challenges involved with organizing and consolidating a complex body related issues, and a growing number of interdisciplinary projects are which was never meant to be permanent. being carried out within the IHRA, for example, through the Multi-Year In 2008, the decision to set up the IHRA Permanent Office in Berlin Work Plan. It is my hope that this publication highlights some of our great was implemented. This was a clear indication that the organization that achievements, but in the end it can only provide an overview of the real was initially intended as a provisional task force was no longer a temp­- change and specific achievements that have taken place since former o­rary body. The decision to rename the Task Force the ‘International Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson brought the organization together. Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’ was a further affirmation of the per­ It is a great privilege to work with so many scholars, political represent- manence of the IHRA. atives and educational experts in my role as Executive Secretary of the The alarming rise in and hate crime in recent years only IHRA. These individuals who offer their time voluntarily, inspired by their serves to underline the importance of the IHRA as a permanent body. common belief in the importance of our work, truly are the backbone of The formation of the Committees on the of the Roma, Antisemi- this organization. I am also grateful to my dedicated team at the Permanent tism and Holocaust Denial, and , Genocide and Crimes Office who have grown with the tasks given to them. I am deeply proud of Against Humanity demonstrate that the IHRA is conscious of the role it has all that we have achieved together and I look forward to the IHRA’s future to play not only in preserving the past but also in shaping the future. successes.

2 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 3 My first contact with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance came in 2010, shortly after my appointment as the firstUK Envoy for The Post-Holocaust Issues. I was immediately struck by the unique format of the IHRA, composed as it is of policy-makers from governments and experts on the topic of the Holocaust — academics, educators, curators, History administrators and survivors. The IHRA is an organization which is not only a network of some of the most renowned experts in the world but is also a crucial link between these experts and the political level. It is of the only through the involvement of governments that the Holocaust can be in­cluded in educational curricula and in the shared remembrance culture of entire populations. IHRA The IHRA began life as the ‘Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research’ following an Sir Andrew Burns, initiative of the former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson, who was IHRA Chair 2014 and UK Envoy deeply affected by his visit to Neuengamme and was worried by how little for Post-Holocaust Issues 27 2015 young people in Sweden knew about the Holocaust. Between 26 and 28 January 2000, the representatives of 46 governments came together in Stockholm to attend an international forum on Holocaust education. The outcome was the ‘Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust’, which became the founding document, and indeed the mission statement, of what is now the International Holocaust Remem- brance Alliance. Since that momentous meeting, the IHRA has continued to grow in terms of membership, reach and impact. It currently has 31 member countries, ten observer countries and seven international organizations which are permanent partners. Through more than a dozen specialized Working Groups and Committees, IHRA experts give voluntarily of their time and expertise to forge a deeper collective understanding of the causes and history of the Holocaust. They discuss and share the best ways of commemorating the Holocaust and teaching the subject to future generations. They consider how best to recognize and combat Holocaust denial and denigration, antisemitism and xenophobia. They promote understanding of the history of other victims of Nazi rule and they con- tribute to broader international efforts to prevent further . Their con­clusions and recommendations are then fed directly into the Sir Andrew Burns. Credit: Jonathan Goldberg policy-making level of member governments.

4 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 5 Argentina — Austria — In 2003, Argentina decided to eradicate im- Since its Chairmanship, Austria has consider- punity for the mass and systematic violations ably increased its activities within the IHRA of human rights committed during the last in two main ways: Firstly, by underlining the dictatorship (1976–1983). Within this frame- relevance of Holocaust education for under- work, Argentina understands its participation standing the origins and threat of genocide in the IHRA as the only Latin American mem- and related phenomena such as mass atro­ ber country as part of its commitment not cities, antisemitism, religious intolerance, IHRA Plenary 2013 in Berlin. Credit: Trevor Good only to Holocaust issues but also to genocide xenophobia and hate crimes. Secondly, by prevention. One of the key results of joining ensuring the standards required for entering On 27 January 2015, 70 years after the liberation of the German Nazi the IHRA is that civil society organizations and advancing within the IHRA are main- concentration and Auschwitz-Birkenau and 15 years can participate consistently as relevant actors tained through the introduction of a regular in strengthening policies in the field. periodic reporting mechanism on activities after the original Stockholm Declaration, the IHRA countries reaffirmed related to the Stockholm Declaration. the commitments undertaken in Stockholm — this publication aims to Canadian IHRA Chair Mario Silva visits the AMIA Memorial in provide a snapshot of the vital work which the IHRA has carried out over Buenos Aires, Argentina. Credit: Canadian Embassy in Argentina the last 15 years. It has been my honor to chair the IHRA through this important anniversary. It has been a time for reflecting on what we have achieved thus far and for determining that this is not a time to ease up on our efforts. Sadly, incidents of antisemitism, xenophobia, genocide and Holocaust denial and distortion are not confined to the past but continue to be real threats to the health of our societies. These threats highlight the very real need for an intergovernmental body like the IHRA which keeps memory and understanding of the Holocaust firmly on the political agenda. It is my hope that in the future we shall see ever more countries join the IHRA and strengthen Holocaust education, remembrance and research in their own societies. The Holocaust has a universal meaning even for countries and societies relatively untouched by the event itself. And it is my hope that through our united efforts, the commitments enshrined in the Stockholm Declaration will continue to be respected and implemented around the world in honor of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Our responsibility to them does not diminish over time.

“Even as we redress the injustices of the past, we must ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust do not fade away in the future.” — Excerpt from a video message by Bill Clinton, President of the United States, at the Ceremonial Opening of the Stockholm International Forum, 26 January 2000.

6 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 7 Timeline

2004 2012 An IHRA delegation The Task Force for is formed to begin 2006 International Cooper- a dialogue with the The IHRA Honorary 2010 ation on Holocaust 2014 International Tracing Chairman Yehuda The guidelines Education, Remem- The first IHRA con­ 2000 Service (ITS) in Bad Bauer addresses ‘The Holocaust and brance and Research ference on the topic The Stockholm Arol­sen, Germany, the UN General Other Genocides’ changes its name of the genocide of International Forum about opening the Assembly on 27 are adopted. to the International the Roma is held in on the Holocaust archive. January. Holocaust Remem- London. is attended by repre- The IHRA signs a brance Alliance. sentatives of 46 Memorandum of 1998 governments result- 2008 Understanding with The IHRA adopts The IHRA (then the ing in the creation The IHRA Permanent OSCE/ODHIR and the International ITF) is established of the Stockholm Office is established with the Council of Memorial Museums in Stockholm. Declaration. in Berlin. Europe. Charter.

1990s 2000s 2010s

2001 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 The Education Work- The UN adopts 27 The decision is made The decision is taken The IHRA imple- The IHRA adopts the The IHRA issues ing Group begins January as ‘Interna- to open the Interna- to form a Standing ments its Multi-Year Working Definition its first academic drafting guidelines tional Day of Com- tional Tracing Service Committee on Anti- Work Plan — four of Holocaust Denial publi­ cation­ ‘Killing on ‘why’, ‘what’ and memoration in mem- (ITS) archive follow- semitism and Holo- long-term projects and Distortion. Sites — Research ‘how’ to teach about ory of the victims of ing a campaign in caust Denial. focusing on key and Remembrance.’ the Holocaust. the Holocaust’ and which the IHRA was Holocaust-related commends the IHRA involved. issues. for its work. A country reporting and peer review sys- tem is established through which mem- Photos (clockwise): ITS Bad Arolsen Central Index of Names. ber countries report The Vatican appoints Credit: Andreas Greiner-Napp. ITS / Professor Yehuda Bauer on their activities in a permanent liaison addresses the United Nations General Assembly on 27 January 2006. UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz / Still image of the girl relation to the Stock- person for IHRA , 19 May 1944. Credit: Herinneringscentrum holm Declaration. issues. Kamp Westerbork / IHRA Publication ‘Killing Sites — Research and Remembrance’ / ITS Bad Arolsen correspondence de- pository.­ Credit: Andreas Greiner-Napp. ITS / Memory Road Initiative, Lithuania. Credit: Tomas Kavaliauskas

8 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 9 1. — The Holocaust (Shoah) fundamentally 5. — We share a commitment to encourage challenged the foundations of civilization. the study of the Holocaust in all its dimen- The unprecedented character of the Holo- sions. We will promote education about the Declaration caust will always hold universal meaning. Holocaust in our schools and universities, in After half a century, it remains an event close our communities and encourage it in other enough in time that survivors can still bear institutions. witness to the horrors that engulfed the of the Jewish people. The terrible suffering of the 6. — We share a commitment to commem­ many millions of other victims of the Nazis has orate the victims of the Holocaust and to left an indelible scar across Europe as well. honor those who stood against it. We will encourage appropriate forms of Holocaust Stockholm 2. — The magnitude of the Holocaust, remembrance, including an annual Day of planned and carried out by the Nazis, must Holocaust Remembrance, in our countries. be forever seared in our collective memory. The selfless sacrifices of those who defied 7. — We share a commitment to throw International the Nazis, and sometimes gave their own light on the still obscured shadows of the lives to protect or rescue the Holocaust’s Holocaust. We will take all necessary steps victims, must also be inscribed in our hearts. to facilitate the opening of archives in order The depths of that horror, and the heights to ensure that all documents bearing on the Forum of their heroism, can be touchstones in our Holocaust are available to researchers. understanding of the human capacity for evil and for good. The Stockholm International Forum on on the 3. — With humanity still scarred by geno- the Holocaust was a conference held cide, ethnic cleansing, racism, antisemitism in the year 2000, attended by the high- and xenophobia, the international commu­nity level representatives of 46 nations, with shares a solemn responsibility to fight those the aim of encouraging a united, inter- Holocaust evils. Together we must uphold the terrible national effort to promote Holocaust truth of the Holocaust against those who education, remembrance and research. deny it. We must strengthen the moral com- mitment of our peoples, and the political of 2000 commitment of our governments, to ensure 8. — It is appropriate that this, the first that future generations can understand the major international conference of the new causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its millennium, declares its commitment to consequences. plant the seeds of a better future amidst the soil of a bitter past. We empathize with the 4. — We pledge to strengthen our efforts victims’ suffering and draw inspiration from to promote education, remembrance and their struggle. Our commitment must be to research about the Holocaust, both in those remember the victims who perished, respect of our countries that have already done much the survivors still with us, and reaffirm human- and those that choose to join this effort. ity’s common aspiration for mutual under- standing and justice.

Former Swedish Prime Minis- ter Göran Persson addresses the audience at the first Stock- holm International Forum on the Holocaust in 2000. Credit: Lars Nyman

10 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 11 Reaffirmation of the Stockholm Declaration

On 27 January 2015, the IHRA reaffirmed its commitment to the Stock- The President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski at the commemoration ceremony of the 70th anniversary of holm Declaration to mark its 15th anniversary. The following statement the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau held on 27 January 2015 Credit: Łukasz Kami´nski Chancellery of the President of the was made: Republic of Poland Today, 70 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, the 31 member and eight observer countries of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, together with our seven Permanent International Partners, have collective- ly reaffirmed our strong and unqualified support for the founding document “An Auschwitz survivor, Primo Levi, pointed out that of our organization, the Stockholm Declaration of the year 2000, and the “those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it”. solemn commitments which our governments then undertook. It is our obligation: of Europe and indeed of the whole The unprecedented character of the Holocaust will always hold uni­ world to remember for the sake of the ones who suf- versal meaning for us. We are committed to remembering and honoring fered here, for your sake, Ladies and Gentlemen, who its victims, to upholding the terrible truth of the Holocaust, to standing have survived a camp gehenna. It is equally our obli- up against those who distort or deny it and to combating antisemitism, gation to remember for our own sake and for the sake racism and prejudice against the Roma and Sinti. of our future.” We are determined to continue to develop our international cooper­ — An excerpt from the address by the President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski at the commemoration ceremony of the ation on Holocaust education, remembrance and research, and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau held on pre­vention of future genocides. 27 January 2015 as published on www.president.pl

12 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 13 Belgium — Canada — During Belgium’s Chairmanship, two high- Canada’s membership is an affirmation at the visibility plenaries in Mechelen and Liège highest political level of its commitment to Is the took place, attracting widespread media Holocaust education, remembrance and re- attention. The most lasting contribution of search. Canada’s Chairmanship helped raise IHRA membership was the inauguration awareness of the Holocaust through initia- of the ‘Kazerne Dossin — Memorial, Museum tives such as a ‘National Award for Excellence IHRA and Documentation Centre on Holocaust in Holocaust Education’, participation in an and Human Rights’ in November 2012, on international poster design competition, de- the spot where the Nazis and their collabora- velopment of a comprehensive research tors organized the deportation of more than guide to holdings related to the Holocaust in Relevant? 25,000 men, women and children. In the first its National Library and Archives, and govern- Professor Yehuda Bauer, full year of its existence, the museum attract- ment funding to help preserve and dissemi- IHRA Honorary Chairman ed more than 100,000 visitors and is rapidly nate Holocaust survivor testimony. and Academic Advisor gaining a reputation for excellence in the of Yad Vashem international arena. croatia — Since joining the IHRA, the Republic of Croa- tia has established a network of teachers and professors committed to the subject of the Holocaust. IHRA membership has also helped increase access to numerous and di- verse Holocaust-related teaching resources for educators. Existing resources have also been upgraded in accordance with the high- est educational standards. In terms of memo- rials, the Jasenovac Memorial Site has be- come one of the most prominent and impor- Opening of the Kazerne Dossin — Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human Rights. tant museums in Croatia, enjoying interna- Credit: Christophe Ketels tional respect and recognition.

Professor Yehuda Bauer, IHRA Honorary Chairman, IHRA Plenary meetings Mechelen. Credit: Government of Flanders

As an intergovernmental organization whose mission it is to provide a political umbrella to spread education, remembrance and research about the Holocaust, how relevant is the IHRA to present-day and future generations?

14 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 15 Unfortunately, the world in which we live, 15 years after the IHRA was you, whoever you are and wherever you live. We can all become perpe­ founded, provides ample proof as to the necessity of working to fulfill the trators, victims, or bystanders, and we must become none of these. IHRA’s mandate. An extremist, violent, and deadly mutation of a great The Holocaust is not the past; seventy years is a very short time in his­ religion is threatening to destroy the positive achievements of civilizations, torical terms, and all the conditions that surrounded the Holocaust are East and West. It aspires to control the world by terrorist means, directed still there. The Holocaust is the present, and in order not to repeat it, in the first instance against masses of Muslims, but then against all the or events similar to it, the IHRA must, and hopefully will, do its part. rest of humanity. , again, are a central target and are threatened with annihilation. There is a parallel between radical Islam, Stalinist communism, and “We must never forget what happened when govern- National Socialism. All three are or were quasi-religions, claiming absolute ments turned a blind eye to grave injustice outside knowledge and absolute certainty. and Bolshevism sought to their borders, when they waited too long to act.” control the world, too, by violent means. They, too, wanted to abolish ethnic — Excerpt from a video message by Bill Clinton, President of the United States, at the Ceremonial Opening of the Stokcholm International Forum, and national identities in favor of a world united by a radical, anti-democratic 26 January 2000. and anti-individualist regime. Like Nazism, the two other ideologies, too, projected a machoist, basically anti-feminist image; there was not a single woman in the Soviet Politbureau or the Nazi leadership, and of course radical Islam is anti-feminist. And for all three of them, the Jews were or became a main enemy. Stalinist persecution of Jews after 1945 was to end with a mass depor- tation leading to annihilation. Radical Islam sees the Jews as being behind czech republic — all their enemies, and threatens them with mass murder and total extermi- In the Czech Republic, the greater involve- nation. National Socialism developed these ideas to their logical conclu- ment of NGO experts in projects and dis­ cussions within the IHRA has led to a more sion: it intended to murder every single Jew all over the world. The Jews efficient dialogue and increased mutual trust were, and are today again, those through whom the rest of humanity was with government authorities. The establish- and is being attacked. ment of an efficient system of lifelong learn- ing about the Holocaust for primary and The Holocaust was the most extreme and unprecedented form of secondary school teachers is another key genocide until now, a paradigmatic case of something that is happening achievement of IHRA membership. Finally, all over the world: attempts to annihilate human groups as such. It is the findings and recommendations from the IHRA have led to a number of seminars on mission of the IHRA to work against that, against the danger that this the genocide of the Roma. This topic is a constitutes to all of humanity. The IHRA works in cooperation with many priority for the government, as demonstrated other groups and individuals, within the UN and regional systems, to by the Museum of Romani Culture and the plans for a Roma Holocaust Memorial promote democracy and human rights. It is part of efforts to combat the in Hodonín u Kunštátu. dangers of genocide, by its work in the fields of education, remembrance, and research of the Holocaust. The IHRA needs to dig deep, to address the concerns of its audience, Commemoration event, Hodonín u Kunštátu, 2013. by showing the impact the past has on the present: this can happen to Credit: L. Grossmannová, Museum of Romani Culture

16 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 17 IHRA Working Groups

Working Group Chairs at the IHRA Plenary session in Mechelen, Belgium in 2012. Credit: Government of Flanders

Academic Working Group (AWG)

The AWG focuses on the promotion of Holocaust research and international coop­ eration on scholarship. Constant efforts to encourage member countries to commit to opening Holocaust-related archives led to the Multi-Year Work Plan (MYWP) on Archival Access — while the opening up of the International Tracing Service (ITS) ar- chive has been a particular focus of its work The IHRA is composed of four Working Groups: the Academic Working throughout the years. The AWG identifies and discusses key academic developments Group, the Education Working Group, the Communication Working in the field of the Holocaust and related top- Group, and the Memorials and Museums Working Group. Holocaust-era documentation, Yad Vashem ics, and members of the AWG have also taken Archives. Courtesy of Yad Vashem leading roles in the MYWP on Killing Sites.

18 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 19 Centropa multimedia films Education displayed on a smart phone. Centropa pictures and stories Working Group (EWG) belonging to the Kalef sisters of Belgrade were used to With representatives drawn extensively from on preparing visits to memorial sites, and the create a multimedia film that IHRA member and observer countries, as guidelines ‘The Holocaust and Other Geno- has now been shown at five international film festivals and well as from the IHRA’s Permanent Interna- cides’, ‘Teaching about the Holocaust without is used in schools in Serbia, tional Partners, the work of the EWG has Survivors’, ‘Preparing Holocaust Memorial the US, Germany, Israel and directly impacted educational policy, tools Days’, and most recently ‘Using Social Media elsewhere. Credit: Centropa and programming in IHRA countries. in Holocaust Education’. One of the key contributions of the EWG is In addition, the EWG has been involved a set of guidelines for educators on why, in the conception, outreach and support for what and how to teach about the Holocaust, edu­cational projects and teacher develop- which have been translated into more than ment programs funded by the IHRA, stimu­ twenty languages. This solid foundation has lating Holocaust education in both member been expanded upon with recommendations and non-member countries.

“How do we make real to each generation of children Communication the incomprehensible events of the Holocaust which Working Group (CWG) they themselves could not have witnessed?” — Excerpt from the message by Robin Cook, British Secretary of State The CWG promotes the work of the IHRA for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, at the Ceremonial Opening both internally across the member states and of the Stockholm International Forum, 26 January 2000. externally to governments, NGOs, the media and international partners. The CWG provides a platform for Holocaust experts from all member states to share pro- The Hall of Names in the Holocaust History Museum, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem. Courtesy of Yad Vashem jects and programs, and to inform members of initiatives and resources. Notable achieve- Participants at Salzburg Global Seminar’s Holocaust ments over the past 15 years include the in- Education and Genocide Prevention session discuss IHRA troduction — and subsequent overhaul — of teaching guidelines. Credit: Salzburg Global Seminar the organization’s website and the rebranding of the organization from ITF to IHRA. The CWG can also take credit for the publication of various brochures and flyers, overseeing the translation of official IHRA documents and, together with the Education Working Group, creating guidelines on using social media in Holocaust education. The small, dynamic group of experts which comprise the CWG Steering Committee is ably supported by the wider group of CWG delegates, who serve in a liaison role within the other Working Groups. The CWG also works closely with current, past and present Chairmanships to ensure optimum and con- tinuous communication strategies.

20 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 21 Memorials and Museums Working Group (MMWG) denmark — finland — The last decade of IHRA membership has In Finland, information on the Holocaust is The MMWG has mobilized support and ex- brought about two main developments in covered by several school subjects. In 2010, pertise to provide guidance to new museums Denmark. Firstly, civil society organizations the Finnish National Board of Education and memorials, as well as to those in transi- have become increasingly involved in organ- amended specific chapters concerning the tion and in need of preservation. One initiative izing activities related to the annual Holocaust Holocaust in the national core curriculum of launched by the MMWG was the renewal of Remembrance Day ‘Auschwitz Day’, as well history and philosophy/ethics in both primary the ‘Ex-Yugoslav’ Pavilion at the Auschwitz- as to other historical events. This increased and secondary education. Finnish history, Birkenau State Museum — a project of distinct participation signals that keeping the memo- religion and ethics teachers attended dedi- international importance. The MMWG has National Holocaust Commemoration 2015 organized by ry of the Holocaust alive is not only an cated training sessions on the Holocaust at also developed two websites exploring, sepa- the Dutch Auschwitz Committee. Credit: Dirk Spits obligation for states, but also for civil society. the International School for Holocaust Stud- rately, the culture of remembrance and the Secondly, IHRA membership has helped ies at Yad Vashem in 2010 and 2012, and development of memorial sites: ‘Cultures of keep a political focus on the importance of many upper secondary schools in Finland Remembrance — a Network’ and ‘Memorial bringing the Holocaust, as well as related provide special courses on the Holocaust, Museums’, hosted by the Topography of issues of antisemitism, discrimination and which include study visits to the Auschwitz- Terror Foundation. The International Memorial other forms of intolerance, into the classroom. Birkeanu State Museum. Museums Charter was drafted by the MMWG The IHRA national chapter, which includes in 2012 to develop guidelines on ethics and additional experts and governmental the principal concerns of memorial museums Estonia — represen­tatives, meets regularly between for victims of the Holocaust. “The task is urgent, the approach plenaries to discuss IHRA-related matters. difficult. The key-word is memory.” Since Estonia joined the IHRA, awareness of Holocaust issues has increased dramatically — Speech by Elie Wiesel at the Ceremonial Opening of the Stockholm International Forum, and the 27 January commemoration has be- 26 January 2000. come an integral annual event. The memorial on the site of the Nazi concentration camp at Klooga has been renovated and an out- Woman looking at the Wall of Names at the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris. Credit: Mémorial de la Shoah/photo Pfrunner door exhibit now completes the memorial. Lessons on the Holocaust have also become part of Estonian school curricula, both in his- tory and social studies. Thanks to the IHRA network and bilateral interstate agreements, our educators now have direct access to the Kristina Kaihari, a member of the Finnish delegation best practices, study materials and educa- to the IHRA, at the memorial for Jewish refugees deported tional resources in the world. from Finland in November 1942, Helsinki. Credit: IHRA

22 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 23 France — Germany — France’s accession to the IHRA offered an German IHRA membership has fostered the opportunity to create a network of national cooperation and efforts of the numerous On the Holocaust experts, ensuring more efficient and diverse institutions focused on Holocaust sharing of information between institutions remembrance, research and education and wider dissemination of activities in the throughout Germany. The vast number of areas of Holocaust teaching, research and memorials that have emerged since the Need remembrance. These discussions have also Stockholm Declaration form part of Germany’s laid the foundation for enhanced educational remembrance culture and provide an impor- work and a closer partnership between tant basis for debates on its Nazi past. The the authorities and the various remembrance most important outcome of Germany’s IHRA for sites in France. This, in turn, has formalized membership is the dialogue with colleagues ties through an international network which from other countries, which has led to the has been enriched over the years, thus pre- realization of a variety of bilateral and multi­ venting educational and memorial activities lateral projects. Holocaust from becoming nothing more than rituals. Greece — Education The majority of Greek citizens reject acts of Professor Steven Katz, xenophobia and intolerance — not only be- Advisor to the IHRA and cause Greece is the cradle of democracy and Slater Professor of Jewish humanistic values, but also because of the and , implementation of the principles of the Stock- Boston University holm Declaration in many areas of contem- porary Greek society. This is evident in such areas as education, academic research, memorials and, of course, the press and other mass media channels. In this respect, the IHRA is the bridge that leads from the ignorance of the past to the tolerance and Children consulting the Mémorial de la Shoah website where the names of Jews deported from France are registered. understanding of the present, and also our Credit: Mémorial de la Shoah/photo Pfrunner hopes for generations to come.

Professor Steven Katz. Photo courtesy of the USHMM 24 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 25 Education and research about the Holocaust are at the core of the IHRA’s fundamental activities. In my role as Advisor to the IHRA, I am often asked: Hungary — IRELAND — Why is Holocaust education so important? Here, I would like to share In the years following Hungary’s accession to On joining the IHRA, Ireland established the some thoughts on this issue, especially given the complex, contentious, the IHRA, milestone commemorative events ‘Standing Committee on Holocaust Educa- have taken place: the launch of a National tion, Research and Remembrance’, which and often dangerous times in which we live. Holocaust Memorial Day in 2000, as well as consists of governmental representatives, the inauguration of the Holocaust Memorial the ‘Holocaust Education Trust Ireland’ (HETI), Centre in Budapest and the opening of the the Irish Jewish Museum, and academics. The need for serious study of the Holocaust Second, and of crucial importance, it must new permanent Hungarian exhibit in the Aus- The government has worked closely with in schools and universities is both a historical be clearly understood that Holocaust educa- chwitz-Birkenau State Museum — both in HETI and other organizations to promote necessity and a sign of respect for the truth. tion is not solely a ‘Jewish issue.’ Holocaust 2004. The Hungarian government declared Holocaust education and awareness through Denying and relativizing the Holocaust is not denial and trivialization, along with other 2012 ‘Wallenberg Year’ and dedicated 2014 teacher education programs, schools’ only factually false but also contributes to a forms of racism, xenophobia and prejudice, to the remembrance of the 70th anniversary initiatives such as the ‘Crocus Project’, and misperception of social and political reality demand a response from all governments of . In 2015, Hungary the ‘National Holocaust Memorial Day’ com- more generally. and all individual citizens, whatever national has the honor of chairing the IHRA for the memoration. The ‘Certificate in Holocaust This requirement, to know the truth and to state they are members of. This is because second time. From an educational perspec- Education’, awarded by the Herzog Centre tell the truth, is today nowhere more neces- the deep question that every state and culture tive, one of the biggest gains of joining the at Trinity College Dublin, provides teachers sary than in the arena of education. For it is has to answer is: what sort of state, what IHRA has been the increased awareness and with continuous professional development. only education, of different sorts, in different sort of culture, will it be? Will it encourage implementation of acknowledged professional venues, which can help shape the character honesty, integrity, the rule of law, freedom standards. of both adults and children in ways that we from oppression, the protection of minorities, would like to see. That is, as individuals who and justice for all both within and outside care for and help others, who have a sense its borders? Again, will we create a society of personal responsibility for their actions and that is based on perversions of the truth, on the actions of their society, who believe in discrimination and dehumanization of the accountability, and who have the courage ‘other’ and, therefore, a corrupt and unjust to raise a critical voice when it is needed. society? Students who engage appropriately in this Then, too, it is essential to understand, as subject become more critically alert, more the historical record teaches us, that Jews are questioning of their own and other environ- usually just the first victims. ments, and more sensitive to the variety of The impact of teaching the Holocaust, if human and cultural differences. Above all, done correctly, will be felt in all discussions we need to recognize that it is education that about the core moral and political issues will largely decide the future of our civilization that students today must confront. And it will — and all civilizations. be felt both in their narrow classroom settings It is for this reason that the fight over edu­ and, more generally, in their social, ethical cation is so intense. Those who seek to and political engagement with the world control it for partisan, religious, or ideological around them. Those who participate in this reasons fully appreciate what they are doing. education will become more caring, morally But the prejudiced, dogmatic, choices that self-conscious, and certainly better citizens. they make and would impose on others harm As members of the IHRA and signatories every­one in their society. Such control holds of the Stockholm Declaration, these are goals Commemoration ceremony in Budapest during the all reasoned discussion, all scientific re- we all need to be committed to. Canadian Chairmanship. Credit: Sándor Makofka search, and historical inquiry — not just the study of the Holocaust — hostage to a priori assumptions that cannot be questioned but that may well be false.

26 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 27 Holocaust denial is discourse and propagan- Distortion of the Holocaust refers, inter alia, to: da that deny the historical reality and the extent of the extermination of the Jews by the 1. — Intentional efforts to excuse or mini- Working Nazis and their accomplices during World mize the impact of the Holocaust or its War II, known as the Holocaust or the Shoah. principal elements, including collaborators Holocaust denial refers specifically to any and allies of ; attempt to claim that the Holocaust / Shoah Definition did not take place. 2. — Gross minimization of the number of Holocaust denial may include publicly deny- the victims of the Holocaust in contradiction ing or calling into doubt the use of principal to reliable sources; mechanisms of destruction (such as gas of chambers, mass shooting, starvation and 3. — Attempts to blame the Jews for caus- torture) or the intentionality of the genocide ing their own genocide; of the Jewish people. Holocaust denial in its various forms is an 4. — Statements that cast the Holocaust as Holocaust expression of antisemitism. The attempt to a positive historical event. Those statements deny the genocide of the Jews is an effort are not Holocaust denial but are closely con- to exonerate National Socialism and anti- nected to it as a radical form of antisemitism. semitism from guilt or responsibility in the They may suggest that the Holocaust did not Denial genocide of the Jewish people. Forms of go far enough in accomplishing its goal of Holocaust denial also include blaming the “the of the Jewish Question”; Jews for either ex­aggerating or creating the Shoah for political or financial gain as if 5. — Attempts to blur the responsibility for and the Shoah itself was the result of a conspiracy the establishment of concentration and death plotted by the Jews. In this, the goal is to camps devised and operated by Nazi Germany make the Jews culpable and antisemitism by putting blame on other nations or ethnic once again legitimate. groups. Distortion The goals of Holocaust denial often are the rehabilitation of an explicit antisemitism and the promotion of political ideologies and con- ditions suitable for the advent of the very type of event it denies.

“The gravest form of false witness is to deny the full

Holocaust-era documentation, Yad Vashem Archives. Courtesy of Yad Vashem horror of the Holocaust. We must ensure that those who peddle that lie are exposed and defeated. The least we owe the millions of the victims of the The present definition is an expression of the awareness that Holocaust Shoah is to be frank and honest about their fate.” denial and distortion have to be challenged and denounced nationally — Excerpt from the message by Robin Cook, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, at the Ceremonial Opening and internationally, and need examination at a global level. The IHRA of the Stockholm International Forum, 26 January 2000. hereby adopts the following legally non-binding working definition as its working tool.

28 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 29 Israel — Italy — The State of Israel remains appreciative of the Since joining the IHRA, the Italian Govern- distinct contribution offered by the IHRA’s ment has increased its support for initiatives IHRA very existence over these past 15 years, which aim to strengthen Holocaust remem- which has enabled meaningful, relevant and brance, education and research. Following accurate Holocaust remembrance, education the 2004 Italian Chairmanship, institutions and research throughout the world. Obvious- and civil society have become more involved Committees ly, the Shoah remains a deeply evocative, in Holocaust-related issues. The collabora- often charged issue for Israel and Israelis, tion between the Ministry of Education and and accordingly the work of Yad Vashem and the Union of Italian Jewish Communities has other Israeli institutions reflects that unique, produced positive results. It also continues to ever-present centrality. Through the unpre- strengthen the civil consciousness of future cedented platform created by the IHRA on the generations — particularly with a national, diplomatic level, Israel has succeeded in annual competition, prominently awarded by developing close partnerships with various the President of the Italian Republic. The nu- IHRA member governments, delegations and merous memorial initiatives and events constituent institutions, together furthering around 27 January — organized by institu- worthy projects under IHRA’s aegis. tions and civil society groups — receive wide- spread media attention.

Latvia — IHRA membership has offered Latvia a plat- form for sharing best practices. Examples of completed projects include Holocaust edu- cation seminars for opinion-makers in Latvia, which were organized by the museum ‘Jews in Latvia’ with the support of the IHRA. Anoth- er unique project developed by the Centre of Judaism at the University of Latvia is the ‘Names and Destinies’ project. It comprises a website containing information on former Jewish communities of Latvia as well as an archive of Jews who perished in the territory of Latvia during the period 1941–1945.

The IHRA has established three specialized committees: the Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial, the Committee on the Genocide of the Roma and the Committee on the Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity.

30 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 31 Committee on Committee on the Antisemitism and Holocaust, Genocide and Lithuania — Luxembourg — Holocaust Denial Crimes Against Humanity Lithuania has made teaching about the In Luxembourg, interest in the Holocaust is Holocaust obligatory in schools, and more growing constantly. The intense networking The creation of the Committee on Antisemi- The Committee on the Holocaust, Genocide than 100 Tolerance Education Centers among IHRA member countries has contrib- tism and Holocaust Denial in 2009 was a and Crimes Against Humanity grew from a have been set up in secondary schools — uted strongly to Luxembourg re-evaluating milestone for the IHRA, as it turned the focus sub-committee that focused on ways to sup- 37 of these receive financial support from its focus on the Holocaust. The report on of the organization towards the contemporary port educators in teaching about the rela­ the IHRA. In addition, courses in Holocaust Jewish assets has drawn public attention to challenges of Holocaust denial and distor- tionship of the Holocaust to other genocides Studies are offered at five Lithuanian uni- the subject and has raised new questions tion, and current forms of antisemitism. and crimes against humanity. The central versities and 23 September is comme­morated about the involvement of Luxembourgers in The Committee’s biggest achievement is the accomplishment of the sub-committee was annually at the killing site at Paneriai. The the Holocaust and the role of Luxembourg Working Definition of Holocaust Denial and the publication of the document ‘The Holo- Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania civil servants in deportations. In 2004, the Distortion, which was developed in coopera- caust and Other Genocides’, which offers declared 2011 the ‘Year of Remembrance European Ministers of Education established tion with governmental representatives from ideas and recommendations for educators. for the Victims of the Holocaust’, and 2013 a special Holocaust Memorial Day, in which IHRA member countries for use as a working The newly formed committee aims to was declared the ‘Year of Remembrance schools play an eminent role. Furthermore, tool and was adopted in 2013. supplement this publication by developing for the Victims of the Vilnius Ghetto’. In the government recently made the decision additional guidelines, which will focus on 2010, the criminal code was amended with to erect a dedicated monument to commem- a comparative approach as well as engaging a new article, making it a criminal offence orate the victims of the Holocaust. Committee on the with IHRA Chairs’ initiatives on genocide to condone, trivialize, or deny crimes of Genocide of the Roma prevention. The committee also aims to com- genocide or crimes against humanity. plete an overview of experts and institutions The Committee on the Genocide of the Roma taking a comparative approach to teaching has worked to increase the commitment of about genocide, and to collect and share best the IHRA to promote education, research practices in IHRA member and non-member and remembrance on the fate of the Roma countries. during the Holocaust, and to engage with contemporary issues such as hate speech and discrimination against Roma. The work of the Committee includes support- ing organizations with a focus on the Roma in the IHRA’s Grant Programme application process, raising visibility of the issue through outreach and networking, and by organizing a conference held in London in 2014. In 2014 the Committee also initiated two research projects: an annotated bibliography of academic publications on the genocide of the Roma, and an overview of international organizations working on the genocide of the Roma and contemporary Roma-focused issues.

Memory Road initiative, Lithuania. Credit: Tomas Kavaliauskas

Elina Machálková singing at a commemoration event, Hodonín u Kunštátu, 2009. Credit: L. Grossmannová, Museum of Romani Culture

32 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 33 Born in 1929 in Pabianice, Poland, Ben survived Buchenwald and was liberated from Terezin in May 1945 by the Russian Army. From his extended Interview family, only his sister Mala survived. After the war Ben settled in Great Britain which he represented at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, and won a bronze medal at the 1958 Commonwealth Games. He now lives in London with with his wife Ava and has three sons and nine grandchildren. As one of the very few people still involved were sequential. The London conference in the IHRA who was there when the Task was critical but Persson’s own interest and Ben Force, which formed the basis of the or- intervention were decisive and I was most ganization was created, how would you honored to accept his invitation to speak describe your role today? at the Stockholm International Forum in Having been Chairman of the ’45 Aid Society January 2000. Helfgott (a survivors’ organization), the UK Yad Vashem Committee and the Central British Looking back to when the IHRA was Fund, as well as a trustee and board member established, what was the contemporary of various UK and international organizations feeling and atmosphere concerning engaged in Holocaust education and com- Holocaust issues? memoration, I was privileged to work along- Although there was great ignorance about side Greville Janner, a politician and leading the Holocaust when the IHRA was founded, activist and campaigner on post-Holocaust I am delighted that we have made great pro- issues. In 1997, Greville asked then Prime gress since then. The most critical develop- Minister Tony Blair to convene and host an ment for me was the demise of Communism; international event (the London Conference without this, the IHRA would never have come on Nazi Gold) to assess the extent of Jewish into existence. The reunification of Europe properties and possessions plundered in opened up new possibilities. In addition to the Holocaust and examine the efforts made Persson and Clinton, in the UK we were very by European countries, including the UK, fortunate to have in Tony Blair a Prime Minis- to return these assets. ter who was thoroughly committed to this During the discussions, the neutrality of cause. Together, these conditions constituted certain European countries was called into perfect timing for this project. My stand-out question. These assertions so alarmed the memories from the first plenary are Persson’s Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson that speeches, but the whole atmosphere was he called for a poll to evaluate what school phenomenal. Everyone there knew we were pupils knew about the Holocaust. The results part of something historic and very special. revealed some uncomfortable truths, includ- ing the casting of doubt over the extent of the How would you describe the IHRA’s atrocities. achievements? In 1999, I gave a speech at the follow-up Overall, excellent, but success is dependent to the Gold Conference in Washington. By on the country Chairs — it is up to them to then, Prime Minister Persson had already build on the achievements of previous years written to Tony Blair and President Clinton, and put their own stamp on proceedings. encouraging them to join him in establishing We are very fortunate in the UK to have Sir an international organization focusing on Andrew Burns, who is a great leader and some- Ben Helfgott MBE. Courtesy of the Holocaust Memorial Holocaust education. In my opinion, the one who has galvanized our work. I must Day Trust events that led to the creation of the IHRA also give credit to the countries involved in

34 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 35 instigating and arranging the creation of the died. I see only a positive future for the IHRA, Permanent Office in Berlin. This has been as long as it stays true to its original mission. Netherlands — Norway — a great achievement and has given the organ- More importantly, as long as we see what is IHRA membership has, without a doubt, influ- During the last two decades, Norway has ization a strong identity. I am delighted that happening in the world with people being enced policy-making in the Netherlands. It seen a marked reinforcement of political, more and more countries have become mem- persecuted because of their race, religion or led to the founding of the Centre for Holocaust social and cultural consciousness towards bers and that still others are encouraged identity, it is vital that the IHRA exists. The or- and Genocide Studies in 2002 — an institute the Holocaust. The IHRA has proved an by the words and commitments of the Stock- ganization and the work that it does are now that offers an annual Masters program on the increasingly important meeting place for holm Declaration. more important than ever. Holocaust. In 2010, the Centre merged with the exchange of theoretical, practical and the Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide aesthetic ideas of Holocaust memorialization. Can you describe My stand-out memories from the first plenary are Studies (NIOD). International cooperation Norway benefits through bilateral and trans- some of the pro- between museums and research institutions national cooperation, as well as through jects you have been Persson’s speeches, but the whole atmosphere was from the Netherlands and other IHRA mem- the IHRA’s function as a scholarly arena for involved with for phenomenal. Everyone there knew we were part ber states has intensified, new projects have discussion and study of the similarities and the IHRA? of something historic and very special. been initiated and new discussion topics differences in national memory cultures. Although I am nomi- have come to light. Specific examples of pro- The obligations enshrined in the Stockholm nally a member of jects include the Dutch-Polish educators’ Declaration have been followed up with the Memorials and Museums Working Group, What more could be done to enhance the exchange, the multi-lingual digital exhibition the foundation of the ‘Centre for Studies of as a representative of the UK Holocaust Me- IHRA’s role? on the genocide of the Roma and Sinti, and the Holocaust and Religious Minorities’ in morial Day Trust, I am very happy to assist I feel strongly that we are achieving a great the book ‘The Holocaust and Other Geno- 2001 and among others, the Falstad Centre, with any aspect of the work of colleagues in deal. We can always try to promote ourselves cides’, which was published during the Dutch the foundation ‘Arkivet’ in Kristiansand, the the UK delegation and contribute to the IHRA more but this should not detract from what Chairmanship. Jewish Museum in Trondheim and the Oslo in whatever way I can. we are doing or what we have achieved. Jewish Museum. Can you comment on how the IHRA has It is noticeable that you are the only survi- changed between its inception and now, vor involved with the IHRA. Do you think Poland — and what challenges do you foresee for survivors’ experiences, memories and the IHRA? legacies are being well represented and Following the adoption of the Stockholm In light of recent events and current percep- preserved? Declaration, the Polish government added tions of the Holocaust, it is essential to hold Although I am confident that survivors’ Holocaust education to school curricula. on to what we created in 2000 in Sweden and messages are well preserved, it is up to Holocaust research has developed tremen- stay focused on our original objectives. I am organizations and governments in each dously since 2000 — now all major univer­ very determined about this. We must also en- country to accept this obligation and sities offer courses in Jewish and Holocaust courage wider membership, so that people in commit the necessary resources. Through Studies. The Perpetual Fund of the Auschwitz- other countries can have access to the IHRA’s the IHRA’s network, and thanks to the work Birkenau Foundation, which provides the formidable network and professional exper- of some remarkable organizations, we are necessary resources for the conservation tise. It is essential that we remain committed fortunate to have access to some excellent of the former camp, was also established. to the principles of the Stockholm Declaration materials. Cooperation with the IHRA has helped to — it is our bible. facilitate a more open dialogue within Poland, Other than Feliks Tych, who was a member and in the last fifteen years an honest, multi- The IHRA was founded as a temporary of the Polish delegation, are you aware dimensional debate on Polish-Jewish wartime task force. How do you feel about the fact of other survivors who have been involved relations has developed. Thanks to the shared that it still exists 15 years later? with the IHRA? efforts of historians, educators, and politi- Although the IHRA began with only three No — only my friend Feliks, who I greatly cians, the Holocaust has become an impor- The Dutch Jew Etty Hillesum kept a diary during the occupation member countries, almost immediately four miss from these proceedings. He made a of the Netherlands. The diary and the many letters she wrote, tant part of public discourse. more joined and from the outset there was a great and important contribution to our work also from Camp Westerbork, were of high literary quality. After strong interest from other European countries and it was with deep sadness that I learned the war they were published in more than ten languages. Hillesum was most likely murdered in Auschwitz on 30 November to be involved. Without question, the IHRA of his passing. 1943. Courtesy of the Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam will continue long after the survivors have

36 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 37 MYWP on Education Research IHRA Over the past ten years, the field of teaching and learning about the Holocaust has become increasingly professionalized, with numerous related developments in education Multi-Year research. The IHRA recognized the need to examine these new trends and initiated the MYWP on Education Research, which aims to provide an overview of empirical research Work studies focusing on teaching and learning about the Holocaust. A conference will be held in Switzerland in 2016 to share and discuss the findings among Plan academics, educational experts, decision- makers, NGOs, diplomats and funding organ- izations. IHRA’s first publication ‘Killing Sites — Research and Remembrance’.

MYWP on Killing Sites

The IHRA’s MYWP on Killing Sites is dedicat- ed to locating killing sites and ensuring their commemoration and preservation. The con- ference ‘Killing Sites — Research and Re- membrance’, held in 2014, was attended by a variety of experts in the field. The conference focused on fieldwork as well as on exploring regional perspectives, databases, education and commemoration. A publication incorporating the conference papers was published in 2015 and ITS Bad Arolsen Central Index of Names. The Central Name Index “Identification and commemoration constituted the first authoritative anthology contains 50 million items relating to the fates of 17.5 million victims on the current state of research on killing of Nazi persecution. Credit: A. Greiner-Napp. ITS of the neglected Killing Sites re- sites as well as the first book in the IHRA pub- mains a truly urgent task. IHRA is lication series. less interested in explaining the sad state of affairs than in supporting activists and organizations that The IHRA has implemented a Multi-Year Work Plan have been active in changing it.” (MYWP), giving special attention to killing sites, access — Karel C Berkhoff in the afterword to ‘Killing Sites — Research and Remembrance’ to archives, Education research and .

38 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 39 MYWP on MYWP on Holocaust Memorial Days Archival Access Romania — Slovakia — Several developments have taken place in IHRA membership has given the Holocaust- Aiming to share knowledge and best practic- The MYWP on Archival Access seeks to Romania since joining the IHRA, including the related agenda in Slovakia an international es, and as part of the MYWP on Holocaust evaluate the state of access to relevant inauguration of the ‘Romanian National Holo- dimension, with the truly positive impact of Memorial Days, the IHRA organizes senior- materials located in IHRA member and non- caust Memorial’ in 2009, the updating of creating new networks and new activities. A level meetings with government representa- member countries. The project’s overall aim primary and secondary school curricula, the recent project on the genocide of the Roma tives, policy-makers, students, and NGOs. is to strengthen the commitment to opening publication of academic and non-academic is among those which have received financial IHRA delegations, including the IHRA Chair, archives as mandated in the Stockholm works on the Holocaust, and the develop- support from the IHRA. Working within the the Advisor to the IHRA, the IHRA’s Executive Declaration. ment of a national program for teacher train- IHRA means working with people whose ex- Secretary and affiliated experts, have visited The MYWP’s research shows that Holocaust ing in Holocaust education. In 2010, a mass pertise and experience inspire activities and IHRA member countries including Finland, scholars and researchers face diverse chal- grave was discovered in Popricani (Iasi), in initiatives at a national level. Furthermore, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania and Spain lenges including legal obstacles, data privacy which 36 Jewish victims were found. The IHRA membership helps to ensure that Holo- under the auspices of the MYWP. The MYWP regulations, the closure of archives, prohibi- official verdict in 2014 established that the caust education and remembrance remain also aims to further develop content resources tive costs and inadequate research facilities. Romanian Army was responsible for the important topics in public discourse and on related to Holocaust Memorial Days, which Furthermore, the materials themselves are genocide committed in 1941, thus placing a political level. are available on the IHRA website. often in poor physical condition. Romania among countries committed to the The MYWP aims to support IHRA member preservation of historic killing sites. Building countries in conducting a review of classified on these remembrance efforts, Romania Slovenia — The names of Romanian Jewish and Roma victims of the or otherwise administratively restricted will assume the IHRA Chairmanship in 2016. Holocaust are displayed at the Central Memorial Site of the Holocaust-related documents. The project The joint efforts of the government of Slovenia Holocaust Memorial Monument in Bucharest. The roof is made of metal girders with space between them symbolizing also incorporates the IHRA’s initiative to en- and NGOs to educate and inform the public life between light and shadows, and the untimely death of gage with the European Union in calling for Serbia — about the fate of the Jewish population in the the victims. Credit: Elie Wiesel National Institute for Studying open access to Holocaust-related material. territory of Slovenia during the Holocaust the Holocaust in Romania Serbia has concluded that combating extre- have been well received in schools and beyond. mism in all its forms must start with remem- Significant developments include a visit by brance of the past. Therefore, the Holocaust a group of Slovenian history teachers to Yad will be included in ‘Teaching Materials to Vashem in 2009, the unveiling of a memorial Combat Anti-Semitism’ — a joint initiative by to Slovenian , entitled ‘For- OSCE/ODIHR and the Anne Frank House. gotten Suitcase’, in the city of Murska Sobota, IHRA membership has also allowed coopera- and the annual symposiums at the Centre tion on projects of international importance, for Jewish Cultural Heritage Synagogue in including the development of a joint exhibi- Maribor, organized in cooperation with the tion space within the ‘Ex-Yugoslav’ Pavilion Ministry of Foreign Affairs. at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. The establishment of the memorial center ‘Staro Sajmište’ in Belgrade, on the site of the largest concentration camp on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, is also in progress — sup- ported by the municipality of Belgrade.

40 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 41 Since its inception, the IHRA has funded 390 projects across 44 countries worldwide. However, the IHRA’s Grant Programme provides far more IHRA than financial backing alone: by contributing the international expertise of its Working Groups and the Funding Review Committee, the IHRA offers valuable advice and thorough evaluation, ensuring that funded projects Grant perform to the highest possible level.

From 2001–2008 IHRA funded small-scale the governments of neutral countries during Programme projects exclusively in Central and Eastern the Holocaust. This groundbreaking con­ Europe, many of which focused on teacher ference took a comparative and transnational training. In 2010 a new strategy was launched perspective, challenging long-standing views which opened up the IHRA funding to appli- on refugee policies and rescue myths. By cants all over the world and which sought to focusing on the role of governments, Centro closely align the Grant Programme with the Sefarad-Israel successfully addressed clearly defined political aims of the Stockholm the requests of the political representatives. Declaration. This new strategy was developed after in-depth assessment of gaps in the The Yehuda Bauer Grant was estab- areas of Holocaust education, remembrance lished in 2013. It is awarded annually and research, which identified the need to selected projects that follow the for sustainable, far-reaching interna­tional IHRA’s grant guidelines with a particular projects with governmental involvement. emphasis on the multilateral features Exposing political decision-makers to knowl- of the project as well as the significance edge about the Holocaust should provide of their target groups. them with inspi­ration for activities in their own countries. The realignment of the IHRA’s grant strategy Another key project is the ‘Raphael Lemkin has resulted in grant applicants having to Seminar for Genocide Prevention’, which A Centropa interactive table in the Los Angeles Museum of the think creatively about how to introduce multi- is carried out by the Auschwitz Institute for Holocaust. Centropa is an IHRA grant recipient and is one of lateral elements into their projects and how Peace and Reconciliation in cooperation the few oral history projects that chose to forego the use of video when interviewing and instead digitized to incorporate a governmental dimension. with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. 22,000 old photographs belonging to 1,200 elderly Jews still It has also encouraged them to strive for inter- The program brings together government living in Europe. Credit: Centropa national impact. officials from around the world for week-long With this shift in strategy, the renewed seminars at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State objectives of the IHRA’s Grant Programme Museum. The seminars explore how present have been reflected in a vast number of and future generations can benefit from project proposals. A truly outstanding project understanding the causes of the Holocaust — awarded the first ever Yehuda Bauer Grant and related contemporary issues. This future- in 2014 — was the international colloquium focused project aims to create an internation- ‘Bystanders, Rescuers or Perpetrators? al community whose members can become The Neutrals and the Shoah’, organized by agents of genocide prevention in their home the Centro Sefarad-Israel in Spain. In close countries. The multiple effects of this program cooperation with a number of governmental include local implementation of standardized and non-governmental institutions in IHRA training curricula for civil servants in targeted member countries and beyond, the Centro countries. Sefarad-Israel examined the reactions of

42 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 43 By introducing special focus areas in 2014, including Holocaust denial, new technologies and new research fields, the IHRA has identi- fied contemporary areas of concern, thus offering institutions the opportunity to explore new fields and further shape the future of Holocaust remembrance, research and edu- cation.

Participants and staff of the 2013 Raphael Lemkin Seminar for Genocide Prevention, Global Edition. Credit: Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation

Spain — Sweden — Spain has benefited significantly from the The starting point for the working group easily accessible expert knowledge and pres- which formed the basis of the IHRA was the tigious cooperation within the IHRA. Although quotation ‘Tell Ye Your Children’. This quo- the general population in Spain often feels tation inspired a book on the history of the that the history of the Holocaust is not directly Holocaust which has become one of the most The ‘Keeping the Memory Alive’ poster relevant to them, more and more educational widely published books in Sweden. Another design competition was launched in 2011, and research activities are currently being significant national response was the creation supported by the IHRA Grant Programme developed that consider both the positive and of a governmental authority, the ‘Living History and coordinated by Yad Vashem together negative aspects of Spain’s past during the Forum’, which contributed to the reformation with various partner organizations from Holocaust. Spain established 27 January as of the national history teaching curricula for IHRA member countries. Each year, art the official ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day’ grades 7–9 and in high schools, emphasizing and design students create original post- in 2004, and an increasing number of govern- the importance of teaching about the Holo- ers based on a Holocaust-related theme ment figures now commemorate the anni­ caust. The ‘Living History Forum’ has also chosen by the project partner, The Holo- versary each year. Spain’s IHRA membership fostered widespread national awareness of caust and the United Nations Outreach means that their participation is given a the commemoration of 27 January. Programme. National juries evaluate the prominent place on the international stage. hundreds of entries. The best entries are published as a poster pack, along with an online lesson plan, as an outreach re- source. To commemorate national and Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Tim Uppal announces international Holocaust remembrance days, the two winners of the international poster competition to commemorate the Holocaust at the Yizkor Ceremony at Earl the posters have been exhibited around Bales Park in Toronto organized and led by the Canadian the world in high-profile governmental, Society for Yad Vashem. Credit: David Amoils Photography ““Tell ye your children of it, and let civic and educational settings including your children tell their children, and parliaments and the UN Headquarters. The posters are also in constant use as their children another generation.” a teaching tool in countless classrooms — Joel 1:3 across the globe.

44 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 45 Switzerland — United Kingdom — Switzerland was the first country to establish IHRA membership has given the United a national IHRA support group, by bringing Kingdom an international forum on which Permanent together representatives from teachers’ asso- to progress critical post-Holocaust issues, ciations, Jewish NGOs, Sinti and Roma while NGOs and academics have continued organizations, governmental departments to deliver ground-breaking Holocaust edu­ and universities. The underlying idea was to cational resources, academic research and International promote the implementation of the Stock- commemorative projects to newer audien- holm Declaration and the goals of the IHRA ces. The appointment of the first UK Envoy in civil society. This combined top-down/ for Post-Holocaust Issues, large-scale nation- bottom-up approach turned out to be parti­ al research into teachers’ and pupils’ thinking Partners cularly successful in a multilingual and feder- about the Holocaust, and the taking of a alist country. Teamwork and diversity are digital copy of the ITS archive all demonstrate The IHRA cooperates closely with various intergovernmental bodies in Switzerland’s strengths. the UK’s firm commitment to advancing the form of Permanent International Partners. Some of the partner organi- knowledge and awareness of the Holocaust. Nothing demonstrates this more clearly zations have a narrow geographical focus while others have a global than the establishment of the Prime Minister’s presence. What they all share, however, is that issues related to Holocaust Holocaust Commission, tasked with ensuring education, research and remembrance form part of their mandates, Britain has a permanent memorial to the Holocaust and educational resources for and that they all operate with the backing of governments committed to future generations. Holocaust remembrance.

United States — In most cases, the Holocaust forms only a part of the partner organizations’ larger The IHRA gives Holocaust-related institutions portfolio, whereas the IHRA focuses exclu- in the United States an unprecedented forum sively on the Holocaust and related issues. for dialogue with communities and experts The partner organizations turn to the IHRA across the country and throughout the world. to keep abreast of developments in the field, From the first IHRA Holocaust educational and to gain access to the IHRA’s unique book, published under the direction of the pool of experts. In turn, the IHRA benefits Swedish government in 1998, to the expertise from the experience and expertise that the offered today by the Working Groups, the partner organizations offer, and IHRA ex- IHRA enables organizations worldwide to de- perts and national delegations have the op- velop meaningful opportunities in key areas portunity to cooperate with these influential of education, research, and memorialization international organizations. South Lakeland Holocaust Memorial Day 2014 - © Lake District in schools, universities and communities. The Close cooperation between the IHRA and Holocaust Project. Credit: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust IHRA helps build the political will necessary its partners reduces duplication in areas for the institutionalization of these key areas, where there may be an overlap of mandates. and advances the need for open and trans- And by pooling resources, knowledge and parent access to Holocaust-era archives. contacts, the IHRA and its partner organi­ zations can ensure greater effectiveness in promoting Holocaust remembrance and understanding.

46 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Marking 15 years of the Stockholm Declaration 47 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

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Yad Vashem’s Book of Names, Block 27 at the Auschwitz- Birkenau State Museum. The monumental ‘Book of Names’ — 2 meters high and 14 meters in circumference — contains 4.2 million names of murdered Jews gathered over the past 60 years by Yad Vashem and created especially for the exhibition ‘SHOAH’ in Block 27 at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. At the end of the book are empty pages, leaving room for additional insertions as the task of collecting names of victims is not yet complete. Credit: Courtesy Yad Vashem