On Monday 17 February, the UK presidency of the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
welcomed Heads of Delegation from the 35 IHRA Member
Countries to London for an event to commemorate the 25th
anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration on Holocaust
Remembrance. We also invited key figures who played an important
role in shaping international activity on Holocaust education,
remembrance and research over the past 25 years, as well as
Holocaust survivors, representatives of the Jewish community and
civil society.
The UK government is committed to international co-operation to
promote education, remembrance and research about the Holocaust.
The UK was one of the founding signatories of the Stockholm
Declaration in 2000, through which we pledged that the terrible
events of the Holocaust would remain forever seared in our
collective memory. This commemoration event provided an
important opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved in
terms of promoting Holocaust remembrance, and look ahead to the
future.
IHRA Chair
and UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues reflected on the achievements
of the past 25 years. He noted that the pledges made 25 years ago
were still as relevant today as they were in 2000. stressed the importance of
safeguarding Holocaust sites, opening up Holocaust-related
archives, and the promotion of testimony and Holocaust-related
objects. He also drew attention to the dangers caused by
ongoing Holocaust distortion, adding that the truth can never
harm us.
Former Prime Minister and former US President Bill
Clinton both addressed the audience via video message. They
reflected on their efforts, alongside former Swedish Prime
Minister Göran Persson, to strengthen international co-operation
on Holocaust remembrance 25 years ago and to bring together world
leaders to sign the Stockholm Declaration and form the
IHRA.
Looking ahead to the future, participants emphasised that further
collective action was needed to tackle the challenges of
Holocaust distortion and the global rise of
antisemitism. The role of emerging technologies was also
highlighted as an area to explore, given the potential to harness
artificial intelligence as a force for good in Holocaust
education. All agreed that it was essential to continue to
educate about the facts of the Holocaust, to ensure the truth is
never forgotten.
