Illustration: The Government Offices of Sweden

Together for Impact – the Swedish Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

Sweden holds the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, the IHRA, twenty plus years after the first Stockholm Forum on the Holocaust and one year after the Malmö Forum, Remember – ReAct. The Presidency, Together for Impact, began on 1 March of 2022 and will continue until the end of February of 2023.

Sweden assumes the Presidency at a time when the IHRA is needed more than ever; anti-democratic forces are gaining ground, spreading antisemitism, antigypsyism, disinformation and distortion, not least on social media platforms. The Presidency has two major priorities; following up on the pledges made at the Malmö Forum and focusing on further strengthening the IHRA as an institution.

Responsible ministries
Ministry of Culture

  • Stockholm IHRA plenary 20-23 June

    • Family photo from the IHRA plenary.

      Family photo from the IHRA plenary.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Photograph of IHRA Chair Ambassador Ann Bernes

      IHRA Chair Ambassador Ann Bernes.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Photograph of IHRA Honorary Chairman Yehuda Bauer.

      IHRA Honorary Chairman Yehuda Bauer.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Photo of Ann Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

      Ann Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Photo from the IHRA plenary session.

      IHRA plenary session.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Photo from the IHRA plenary session.

      IHRA plenary session.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Photo from the IHRA plenary session.

      IHRA plenary session.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has successfully concluded its first plenary meetings under the Swedish Presidency. Guided by the motto, “Together for impact,” more than 200 experts, political representatives, and representatives of international organizations and civil society met in Stockholm over four days to advance education, remembrance, and research of the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma.

  • Address by Prime Minister on the opening of IHRA Plenary

    The first plenary of the Swedish IHRA Presidency has been held in Stockholm the 20–23 June. The plenary provided an opportunity for the delegates to finally meet again after some time of digital meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Sweden hosts international Holocaust remembrance conference

    On 20–23 June, around 300 experts, researchers, diplomats and politicians from around the world are gathering in Stockholm to collaborate on Holocaust research and education. As President of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), Sweden is hosting the international Plenary Session with a focus on following through on the promises of the 2021 Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.

    “There are very few remaining Holocaust survivors who can share their experiences with us. We need international collaboration, dialogue and education for remembrance, and to counter the antisemitic and antidemocratic forces that are growing around the world,” says Minister for Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter.

  • Teacher Conference - Teaching and learning about the Holocaust and Antisemitism

    • Anna Ekström, Minister for Education, addressing the teachers.

      Anna Ekström, Minister for Education, addressing the teachers.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Micael Bindefeld and Christer Mattsson, talking about the work of the Micael Bindefeld foundation.

      Micael Bindefeld and Christer Mattsson, talking about the work of the Micael Bindefeld foundation.

      Photo: The Segerstedt Institute

    • Holocaust survivor Tobias Rawet.

      Holocaust survivor Tobias Rawet.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • The Mother´s Day card from the ghetto.

      The Mother´s Day card from the ghetto.

      Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    On the occasion of the Swedish IHRA Presidency, a reunion was organized on the 13 June for Swedish teachers who had been to The Yad Vashem. The aim of the day was to reconnect to the experiences from Yad Vashem, and discuss the contemporary and future needs in Sweden for elaborated teaching and learning on the Holocaust and antisemitism.

  • IHRA Chair Statement

    IHRA Chair Ambassador Ann Bernes.
    IHRA Chair Ambassador Ann Bernes. Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden

    "By comparing and equating Ukraine’s democratically elected government and their actions with the murderous policy of Nazi Germany, the history of the Holocaust is being grossly distorted and misused," said IHRA Chair Ambassador Ann Bernes in her first statement as IHRA Chair.

  • Launch of the Swedish IHRA Presidency

    Welcome to watch the digital launch of the Swedish IHRA Presidency. The event includes speeches by the Swedish Minister for Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter, the Honorary Chair of the IHRA Professor Yehuda Bauer as well as the Secretary-General of the IHRA Dr. Kathrin Meyer and is hosted by Ambassador Ann Bernes, Chair of the IHRA.

  • Together for Impact – Promoting Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism and antigypsyism through cooperation and dialogue

    Sweden has been entrusted with holding the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, twenty plus years after the first Stockholm Forum on the Holocaust and one year after the Malmö Forum, Remember – ReAct.

    Sweden assumes the Presidency of the IHRA in a time when the IHRA is facing many challenges. The IHRA must be well-equipped to meet these challenges and continue to safeguard cooperation, dialogue and Holocaust remembrance. The Swedish Presidency will have two major priorities; following up on the pledges made at the Malmö Forum and focusing on further strengthening the IHRA as an institution.

Background

Through the initiative of former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson Sweden helped found the forerunner of the IHRA in 1998, and in 2000 initiated the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust, at which the IHRA was established and the Stockholm Declaration adopted to serve as the basis for its unique expert, knowledge and dialogue-oriented activities.

Sweden’s role as a founder and its long-standing engagement in the IHRA is a central starting point for the Swedish Presidency in 2022–2023.

In January 2020, the IHRA adopted a Ministerial Declaration which supplements the Stockholm Declaration by highlighting several topical issues and pointing out that the genocide of the Roma has been neglected.

In October 2021, at the initiative of former Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, the Swedish Government organised the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, at which 60 delegations made pledges in the IHRA’s area of activity. Sweden pledged to take on the Presidency of the IHRA in 2022–2023 and, as part of that commitment, to follow up on the pledges made at the Malmö Forum.

Holding the Presidency of the IHRA is thus part of consistent efforts whereby the Swedish Government continues to prioritise these issues both in their own right and as an important part of Sweden’s never-ending efforts to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

About The Malmö Forum, Remember - ReAct

  • Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism

    The Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism – Remember-ReAct – was held on 13 October 2021. The participants included heads of state and government, international organisations and social media platforms, all invited by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. The programme focused on four main themes: Holocaust remembrance; Holocaust education; Antisemitism on social media platforms; and Combating antisemitism and other forms of racism in all spheres of life. During the conference, many concrete pledges were made to strengthen Holocaust remembrance efforts and to combat racism.

Participants at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, Remember – ReAct
Participants at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, Remember – ReAct Photo: Sören Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden

Outcome Document - Pledges to the Malmö Forum Remember – ReAct

At the invitation of Stefan Löfven the participating delegations of the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism – Remember ReAct have made pledges. The pledges made by the participants will be followed up during the upcoming Swedish Presidency of the IHRA.

Tre personer sitter på en scen, i förgrunden syns publik.
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Dina Rajs during Plenary Session I . Mikael Sjöberg/Government Offices of Sweden

Documentation of the Malmö Forum

The Plenary Sessions, Breakout Sessions and the Doorstep as well as the submitted pledge videos can be watched on the YouTube channel of the Malmö Forum.

Statsminister Stefan Löfven står vid en talarstol.
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven speaks during Plenary Session II – ReAct. Mikael Sjöberg/Government offices of Sweden

View the Malmö International Forum at your convenience

You can view the entire programme from 13 October on demand at your convenience, including the Plenary Sessions, Breakout Sessions and the Press Conference.

Illustration: Government offices

Photos from the Malmö Forum

Photos from the arrival of the guests and participants of the Malmö Forum on Wednesday morning 13 October.

Löfven inside at the museum
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven visits the Jewish Museum in Stockholm. Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

Sweden's pledges at the Malmö Forum

Sweden will assume the Presidency of the IHRA from March 2022 to the end of February 2023. This was Sweden’s first pledge in connection with the Malmö Forum. Pledges presented at the Malmö Forum will be followed up during the Swedish Presidency. The ambition of the Swedish Government is to implement the measures in this article and allocate a total amount of approximately EUR 9.3 million/year.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven Photo: Kristian Pohl/Government Offices Of Sweden

Stefan Löfven on pledges at the Malmö Forum

Participating delegations are asked to commit to concrete actions and present them at the Malmö Forum. We call these commitments pledges. To clarify what we mean by a pledge in this context, and as a source of inspiration, we will invite various experts to present proposals regarding pledges, says Stefan Löfven in a short film.

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