International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1998 which unites governments and experts to strengthen, advance and promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance worldwide and to uphold the commitments of the Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust. The IHRA has 34 member countries, one liaison country and seven observer countries.
The organization was founded by former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson in 1998. From 26–28 January 2000 the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust was held, bringing together high-ranking political leaders and officials from more than forty countries to meet with civic and religious leaders, survivors, educators, and historians. Nobel Prize laureate Elie Wiesel served as the Forum's honorary Chairman and Professor Yehuda Bauer was the senior Academic Advisor to the forum.
The IHRA carries out internal projects, seeks to influence public-policy making on Holocaust-related issues and develops research focusing on lesser known aspects of the Holocaust.
IHRA adopted the Working Definition of Antisemitism at a plenary session in 2016. On 1 June 2017, the European Parliament voted to adopt a resolution calling on European Union member states and their institutions to adopt and apply the definition. The non-legally binding working definition includes illustrative examples of antisemitism to guide the IHRA in its work. These examples include classical antisemitic tropes, Holocaust denial and attempts to apply a double standard to the State of Israel. Although internationally recognised by many groups, the working definition of antisemitism has been criticised by some as too broad, and conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
Background
Following a survey in 1997 which revealed that many school children lacked knowledge about the Holocaust, and also affected by his personal experience of visiting the site of the former Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg, Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson decided to launch a debate in parliament about Holocaust education in Sweden. This resulted in the Swedish information campaign entitled Levande Historia. Realizing that 'the fight against ignorance about the Holocaust called for an international partnership' Persson also approached US President Bill Clinton and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for their support in establishing an international organization to support Holocaust education, remembrance, and research worldwide.History
The IHRA was founded in 1998 by Persson as the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research. Its first meeting took place in May 1998. Holocaust scholar Yehuda Bauer took on the role of academic advisor. In 1998, Germany and Israel joined the initiative, followed in 1999 by the Netherlands, Poland, France, and Italy.In 2013, ITF changed its name to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The logo of the IHRA, also adopted in 2013, was designed by the renown architect, Daniel Libeskind.
The Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust
From 26–28 January 2000, the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust was held to mark the 55th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on 27 January 1945. It was attended by historians, politicians, and heads of state from 45 countries. Yehuda Bauer was invited to head the academic committee, while Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Elie Wiesel was asked to become the Honorary Chairman of the Forum. A joint declaration, the Stockholm Declaration, was unanimously adopted. As German sociologist Helmut Dubiel notes, the conference "took place in an atmosphere informed by right-wing violence and spectacular success of rightist parties at the voting polls. Nonetheless, the end of the millennium and the anniversary of Auschwitz constituted a reference point for the foundation of a transnational union for struggle against genocide."Following the initial Forum on the Holocaust, the Stockholm International Forum Conferences were convened a further three times on the topics of Combatting Intolerance 2001; Truth Justice and Reconciliation 2002; Preventing Genocide 2004.
The Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust
The declaration is the founding document of the IHRA. It consists of eight paragraphs, which emphasize the importance of education, remembrance and research about the Holocaust.The declaration advocates the need to uphold the "terrible truth of the Holocaust against those who deny it," and to preserve the memory of the Holocaust as a "touchstone in our understanding of the human capacity for good and evil." According to the declaration, "the international community shares a solemn responsibility to fight" "genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, antisemitism and xenophobia".
Member countries
Australia became the 33rd member of IHRA on 4 June 2019, and Portugal became the 34th member on 4 December 2019.| Member country | Year Joined |
| Argentina | 2002 |
| Australia | 2019 |
| Austria | 2001 |
| Belgium | 2005 |
| Bulgaria | 2018 |
| Canada | 2009 |
| Croatia | 2005 |
| Czech Republic | 2002 |
| Denmark | 2004 |
| Estonia | 2007 |
| Finland | 2010 |
| France | 1999 |
| Germany | 1998 |
| Greece | 2005 |
| Hungary | 2002 |
| Ireland | 2011 |
| Israel | 1998 |
| Italy | 1999 |
| Latvia | 2004 |
| Lithuania | 2002 |
| Luxembourg | 2003 |
| Netherlands | 1999 |
| Norway | 2003 |
| Poland | 1999 |
| Portugal | 2019 |
| Romania | 2004 |
| Serbia | 2011 |
| Slovakia | 2005 |
| Slovenia | 2011 |
| Spain | 2008 |
| Sweden | 1998 |
| Switzerland | 2004 |
| United Kingdom | 1998 |
| USA | 1998 |
Observer and liaison countries
Countries that apply for membership of IHRA are initially accepted as Observers, subject to approval by the Plenary, and participate as such in the Working Groups and the Plenary.| Status | |
| Albania | Observer |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Observer |
| El Salvador | Observer |
| Moldova | Observer |
 Monaco | Observer |
| North Macedonia | Liaison |
| Turkey | Observer |
| Uruguay | Observer |
Publications
The IHRA has published a series of Holocaust-related books with the Metropol Verlag in Berlin. Current volumes in the IHRA Publication Series are1. "Research in Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust: A Dialogue Beyond Borders", March 2017
A study of empirical research on teaching and learning about the Holocaust in fifteen languages. The multilingual focus of the project enables cross-cultural analyses and the transfer of knowledge between various regions and countries.
2. "Bystanders, Rescuers or Perpetrators? The Neutral Countries and the Shoah", March 2016
The volume offers a trans-national, comparative perspective on the varied reactions of the neutral countries to the Nazi persecution and murder of the European Jews. It examines the often ambivalent policies of these states towards Jewish refugees as well as towards their own Jewish nationals living in German-occupied countries. By breaking down persistent myths, this volume contributes to a more nuanced understanding of an under-researched chapter of Holocaust history and also considers the challenges and opportunities related to Holocaust education and remembrance in the neutral countries.
3. "Killing Sites – Research and Remembrance", March 2015
More than 2,000,000 Jews were killed by shooting during the Holocaust at several thousand mass killing sites across Europe. The volume aims to raise awareness of this centrally important aspect of the Holocaust by bringing together organizations and individuals dealing with the subject. This publication is the first relatively comprehensive and up-to-date anthology on the topic that reflects both the research and the fieldwork on the killing sites.
Organizational structure
Membership criteria
When a government of any UN member country expresses an interest in working with and/or within the IHRA, it will submit an official letter of application, signed by a senior governmental representative. It will then be accepted as an Observer country, subject to approval by the Plenary, and will participate as such in the Working Groups and the Plenary.Countries should establish a Holocaust Memorial Day, the government of the candidate country should demonstrate clear public policy commitment to Holocaust education at a senior political level, and the new applicant country will satisfy the IHRA that its archives dealing with the Holocaust period are open for research, and that there is or will be academic, educational, and public examination of the country's historical past as related to the Holocaust period.
Rotating chairmanship
The IHRA chairmanship rotates annually among Member Countries. The chairmanship hosts the IHRA plenary meetings up to twice a year in its country. Each country organizes and pays for the meetings taking place in the year of their chairmanship.In 2019, Luxembourg holds the IHRA chairmanship and it will be followed by Germany and Greece. In 2018 the chairmanship was held by Italy.
Permanent office
The IHRA Permanent Office was established on 11 March 2008 in Berlin, Germany. The Executive Secretary of the IHRA is Dr Kathrin Meyer who runs the IHRA Permanent Office. The Permanent Office was created to ensure continuity between IHRA chairmanships and to manage the administrative activities of the IHRA. Primary responsibilities of the PO include providing assistance to the chairmanship, Working Groups, delegations, and other IHRA bodies, facilitating internal and external communication, and administrating the Grant Programme.Delegations
Each IHRA Member and Observer country to the forms a delegation. Delegates are appointed by their governments. The Head of Delegation - for most countries a diplomat or other government official - coordinates their national delegation within the IHRA and represents their country at IHRA Plenary Sessions. The delegation also consists of experts in the fields of Holocaust education, academia and museums and memorials, as well as general communication, who attend the relevant working groups.Working groups
The IHRA has established a number of Working Groups, consisting of government representatives and other experts from each Member country who work together to share best practices and develop decisions to be put to the IHRA Plenary.Academic Working Group
The Academic Working Group is concerned with promoting Holocaust research, increasing accessibility to, and organizing research into, archives, and encouraging international cooperation on research and scholarship. The AWG was instrumental in opening the International Tracing Service archives in Bad Arolson, which contains some 70 million pages of documents relating to the fate of over 17 million victims of World War II.
Education Working Group
The Education Working Group provides advice and expertise on matters of educational best practices, and works with member countries and project partners on educational development. The EWG has developed a wide range of teaching guidelines.
Memorials and Museums Working Group
The Memorials and Museums Working Group helps mobilize support and expertise for Holocaust memorials and related places of memory, it collects information on memorials, and promotes communication and exchange between memorial sites and museums. The MMWG drafted an International Memorial and Museum Charter. The IHRA was also instrumental in campaigning against the destruction of the site of the former Gusen Concentration Camp in Austria, which will now be preserved as a memorial.
Communication Working Group
The Communication Working Group provides IHRA's target groups with information about the IHRA and its initiatives, ensures efficient communication among the members of the IHRA, and informs internal and external audiences on developments in Holocaust education, remembrance, and research.
Committees
The IHRA has three thematic committees that bring together experts from across the Working Groups to address topics that are of contemporary interest to the IHRA.Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial
The Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial was created to address the upsurge in antisemitism and Holocaust denial and trivialization. Two of the Committee's key achievements are the "Working Definition of Holocaust Denial and Distortion" and the "Working Definition of Antisemitism".Working Definition of Antisemitism
In 2016, IHRA adopted the Working Definition of Antisemitism, first published by the EUMC in 2005 but never adopted. Numerous government and political organizations have adopted the IHRA definition.Committee on the Genocide of the Roma
The Committee on the Genocide of the Roma aims to increase the commitment of the IHRA Member Countries to educate, research and remember the genocide of the Roma. Examples of key materials developed by the Committee include a Bibliography and Historiographical Review and an Overview of International Organizations working on historical and contemporary issues connected to the genocide of the Roma.Committee on the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity
The Committee on the Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity was established to support educators who choose to relate the Holocaust to other genocides and crimes against humanity. A central accomplishment of the Committee is the recently finalized survey, A Matter of Comparison: The Holocaust, Genocides and Crimes Against Humanity; An Analysis and Overview of Comparative Literature and Programs The Committee has also recently completed a working paper entitled "History Never Repeats itself, but Sometimes it Rhymes: comparing the Holocaust to different Atrocities". This working paper aims to explore what we mean by "compare" when we relate the Holocaust to other genocides and crimes against humanity.Permanent International Partner Organizations
Currently the organization has seven Permanent International Partners organizations, which hold the status of observer within the IHRA: United Nations, UNESCO, OSCE/ODIHR, International Tracing Service, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Council of Europe, and the Claims Conference.The IHRA formalized its relations with the Council of Europe and with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in 2010.
IHRA Multi-Year Work Plan
The Multi-Year Work Plan was conceived to allow the IHRA to carry out specific projects for longer periods. There are currently four MYWPs:The MYWP on Archival Access aims to support the open access to archives in IHRA Member Countries as mandated in the Stockholm Declaration. In 2015 the MYWP supported the IHRA Chair in securing a specific exception for Holocaust-related materials in the EU General Data Protection Regulation.
The MYWP on Education Research aims to provide an overview of knowledge derived from empirical research studies about teaching and learning about the Holocaust. The MYWP held a conference in February 2016 and published the book 'Research in Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust. A Dialogue Beyond Borders' in March 2017.
The MYWP on Holocaust Memorial Days seeks to coordinate visits by IHRA representatives to participate in commemorative ceremonies in IHRA Member and Observer Countries. In 2015 a roundtable was held in Budapest and in 2017 visits were made to Skopje and Sofia.
The MYWP on Killing Sites is dedicated to the research, commemoration and preservation of places where mass shootings took place. In 2015 the MYWP published a book entitled: "Killing Sites – Research and Remembrance."
IHRA Grant Programme
The IHRA provides financial support to projects related to its mandate fields. The organization's current Grant Strategy includes two programs:- Develop strategies for Holocaust Memorial Days in a way that injects substance, real meaning, and educational value into these events.
- Raise awareness and promote research into the causes of the Holocaust, its driving forces and mechanism, with a focus on preventing genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia.
Controversies
The Norwegian chairmanship and Knut Hamsun
The IHRA faced criticism from a number of public and academic Jewish groups and personalities in relation to the Norwegian chairmanship of 2009. The chairmanship coincided with a controversial decision by Norway to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Knut Hamsun, the Nobel Prize–winning Norwegian author and later Nazi sympathizer. Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld, Chairman of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, challengeded Norway's chairmanship of the IHRA, arguing that "this country is unfit to hold such a position when in the same year it has held major memorial activities for the Nazi-admirer Hamsun."On July 20, 2009, the Norwegian IHRA Chair published a statement rejecting the accusations against it, and promising to continue the IHRA's efforts to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust education.
In an article for Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, Yehuda Bauer defended the Norwegian chairmanship. Bauer emphasized Norway's commitment to Holocaust education, while also acknowledging the continuing presence of antisemitism in Norway and elsewhere:
The arguments against Norway would be more credible if the Norwegians did not admit that there is antisemitism in Norway, that they ignored or wanted to bury Hamsun's pro-Nazi stand or that they hampered the IHRA's work in fighting antisemitism in any way. Not only is none of this true, but it was the Norwegian chairman that, before this controversy exploded, insisted on including the fight against antisemitism as a central component in the IHRA's immediate future program - the proposal was accepted by acclamation.
The IHRA and the Holy See
In 2009, the IHRA suggested that the Vatican enter into a "special arrangement" with the IHRA. The Holy See's Under Secretary of State, Monsignor Pietro Parolin, answered favorably. Moreover, he suggested that the Vatican become an IHRA observer country. Negotiations began, but several months later, the proposal was dismissed.On 21 December 2010, The Guardian newspaper published a news article based on US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks about the failure of negotiations. The article reported that the Holy See had withdrawn from a written agreement to join the IHRA. In the leaked cables, it was stated that "the highly-regarded Parolin" had been promoted and replaced by Msgr. Ettore Balestrero.
Surprising the ITF, Balestrero also invited a representative from the Vatican Archives, Msgr. Chappin, and the Holy See's chief negotiator for the long-delayed Vatican-Israel Fundamental Agreement, Father David Jaeger.
Balestrero, Chappin, and Jaeger who met with the IHRA representatives "evinced considerable discomfort with the idea of ITF observer status". The IHRA representatives — Austrian Ambassador Ferdinand Trauttsmandorff, US Professor Steven Katz of the Elie Wiesel Center at Boston University, and Dina Porat, the academic advisor to the ITF — "expressed considerable disappointment about the unexpected set-back," the cable reported. The cable was critical of the Vatican's new foreign relations team who had been changed since the original agreement to join the IHRA had been made.
Julieta Valls Noyes, second in command at the American Embassy to the Holy See, reported in October 2009 that the plans "had fallen apart completely … due to Vatican back-pedaling". According to Noyes, this could indicate that the Vatican "may... be pulling back due to concerns about ITF pressure to declassify records from the WWII-era pontificate of Pope Pius XII".
With the exception of two statements made about the commencement of the atrocities in Poland, Pope Pius XII has long been a controversial figure for his failure to publicly denounce the Holocaust.
From 16–17 February 2017 the IHRA, in cooperation with the Holy See, held a conference entitled Refugee Policies from 1933 until Today: Challenges and Responsibilities for public policy-makers from Europe, North America and the Middle East, media representatives and representatives of NGOs and civil society organizations at the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome. Speakers from the Holy See included Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See's Secretariat of State, H.E Mgr. Silvano Maria Tomasi, Secretary Delegate of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Dr. Johan Ickx, head of the Historical Archive, Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State.