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

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance stronger as Sweden hands over Presidency

On 28 February, Croatia took over the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from Sweden. The main priorities of the Swedish Presidency were to contribute to strengthening the structure of the IHRA and increase the organisation’s impact.

• Article: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance stronger as Sweden hands over Presidency

Summary Report – International Conference on the Genocide of the Roma and Combating Antigypsyism

The Summary Report of the International Conference on the Genocide of the Roma and Combating Antigypsyism has been finalised.

• Article: Summary Report – International Conference on the Genocide of the Roma and Combating Antigypsyism

Follow-up Report – Pledges presented at the Malmö Forum

The first follow-up report of the pledges made at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism in 2021 has been finalised.

• Article: Follow-up Report – Pledges presented at the Malmö Forum

Second IHRA plenary sessions held in Gothenburg

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) has successfully concluded its second and final Plenary of the Swedish Presidency, which took place during four days in Gothenburg. The meetings, attended by experts, political representatives, and representatives of international organizations and civil society, inspired exchanges and developments in the field of Holocaust remembrance, education, and research under the Swedish Presidency’s motto “Together for Impact.”

The Swedish Minister for Culture, Parisa Liljestrand, addressed the Plenary, highlighting the importance of the IHRA’s collaborative work and stating that, “Working together is the best way to promote human rights and democracy.”

• Article: Second IHRA plenary sessions held in Gothenburg
• Article: Address at IHRA plenary by Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand

International Conference on the Genocide of the Roma and Combating Antigypsyism

On 20–21 October 2022, the Swedish Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) will host an international conference in Stockholm on the genocide of the Roma and combating antigypsyism.

• Article: International Conference on the Genocide of the Roma and Combating Antigypsyism

Stockholm IHRA plenary 20-23 June

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.

Teacher Conference - Teaching and learning about the Holocaust and Antisemitism

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

"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.

• Article: IHRA Chair Statement

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

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.

• Outcome Document - Pledges presented at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.pdf