Sweden has been entrusted with holding the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) – an intergovernmental organisation to promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance – from 1 March 2022 until 28 February 2023. The decision was taken at the IHRA’s digital plenary meeting in Leipzig on 3 December 2020.
“I have promised survivors to do what I can as Prime Minister – and as a human being – for Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism today. I intend to keep that promise. The Presidency of the IHRA, the Malmö Forum and the coming museum about Sweden and the Holocaust are all important parts of these efforts,” says Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.
“Even though history has shown us what the ultimate consequences of antisemitism, antiziganism and racism can be, they still exist in all parts of society. Sweden must set an example and do all it can to prevent something similar from happening again. Remembering is also about learning from history,” says Minister for Culture and Democracy Amanda Lind.
The IHRA, which Sweden helped found in 2000 through the Stockholm Declaration, consists of 34 member countries and a number of organisations.
One central priority of the Swedish Presidency will be to follow up on the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism on 13–14 October 2021, which Mr Löfven will host.
