Tuesday 12 October
18.00–20.00 Welcome Reception (not open for media)
A welcome reception for the Heads of Delegations will be hosted by the Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. Delegates are invited to a separate welcome reception. This will be hosted by the State Secretary to Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Ms Karin Wallensteen, and State Secretary to the Minister for Education Anna Ekström, Ms Kristina Persdotter. The receptions will feature music in Yiddish by the Swedish/Danish duo Ida&Louise.
Wednesday 13 October
08.30–09.45 Doorstep
10.00–11.15 Plenary Session I – Remember
Today, few survivors remain to bear witness to the horrors of the Holocaust. The opening Plenary Session will reflect on the consequences of the diminishing number of survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust, the Roma genocide and the persecution that different groups were exposed to during the Holocaust. The international community has an obligation to ensure that the Holocaust is remembered and that future generations understand the causes of and the process leading up to the Holocaust, and to reflect on its consequences to prevent this from ever happening again.
The first Plenary Session will feature klezmer musician Giora Feidman and musical performances in Yiddish by Gabrielle Aaron-Johansson, and in Romani by Maria Salamanca Taikon Gonzalez. The speakers in this Plenary Session:
- Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven
- Mayor of Malmö City Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh
- President of the European Council Charles Michel
- President of Israel Isaac Herzog
- Professor Yehuda Bauer
- President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder
- President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum Miranda Vuolasranta
- President of France Emmanuel Macron
- United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
11.15–11.35 Family photo
11.50–12.50 Breakout Sessions
Three parallel Breakout Sessions will feature interactive discussions focusing on the different themes of the Forum with short interventions (approx. 3 min) by Heads of Delegations. The lists of speakers in each session is currently being finalized and will be communicated in the final programme. Each Breakout Session will start with a brief “scene setter” by an expert. The format of these sessions is a moderated conversation where the moderator will play an active role. The organisers kindly ask all speakers to respect the limited time for interventions in order to allow for an interactive conversation. At the end of each session there will be possibilities for questions or comments from delegates.
1.1 Promoting remembrance, fighting distortion
This session will focus on the significance of museums, memorials, and commemorative activities to promote Holocaust remembrance. Discussions will also cover how to combat denial and distortion – which includes safeguarding independent free research – to guarantee a correct presentation of historical facts and honour the memory of all victims of the Holocaust and other mass atrocities. This is also a prerequisite for lessons to be learnt and efforts to prevent mass atrocities in the future.
1.2 Developing education and reaching new target groups
This session will explore the development of Holocaust education and its various aims. These aims include preserving the memory and understanding of the historical course of events, and the role of education as a mean to prevent and combat antisemitism, antigypsyism and other forms of racism. The ways that Holocaust education and education to prevent antisemitism can reach a wider target group and approaches to capacity-building for teachers will also be covered.
1.3 Countering contemporary antisemitism and other forms of racism online and offline
This session will explore the nature of contemporary antisemitism and the various contexts where it exists. Discussions will also cover good examples of combating antisemitism, antigypsyism and other forms of racism and intolerance. A special area of emphasis will be antisemitism on social media platforms, Holocaust denial, distortion, disinformation, conspiracy theories and incitement to hate crimes and hate speech online.
13.00–14.30 Lunch
A lunch for the Heads of Delegations will be hosted by Prime Minister Löfven. Delegates are invited to a separate lunch. The lunch at the Malmö Forum will feature a musical performance by the Alma Quartet from the Malmö Symphony Orchestra. The lunch for the delegates will be hosted by the State Secretary to Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Ms Karin Wallensteen, and State Secretary to the Minister for Education Anna Ekström, Ms Kristina Persdotter.
14.50–15.50 Breakout Sessions
Three parallel Breakout Sessions will feature interactive discussions focusing on the different themes of the Forum with short interventions (approx. 3 min) by Heads of Delegations. The lists of speakers in each session is currently being finalized and will be communicated in the final programme. Each Breakout Session will start with a brief “scene setter” by an expert. The format for these sessions is a moderated conversation where the moderator will play an active role. The organisers kindly ask all speakers to respect the limited time for interventions in order to allow for an interactive conversation. At the end of each session there will be possibilities for questions or comments.
2.1 Implementing strategies and ensuring security
This session will deal with the use of different tools, for example strategies and action plans to combat antisemitism, and the appointment of special coordinators/rapporteurs to combat antisemitism. The session will also explore examples of implementation of the IHRA non-legally binding Working Definitions on antisemitism and antigypsyism/Roma discrimination. Discussions will also cover the promotion of Jewish life and ensuring safety and security of persons belonging to minorities affected by antisemitism, antigypsyism and other forms of racism and intolerance.
2.2 Combating antisemitism and hate speech on social media
This session will address the use of social media to spread disinformation, incite hatred and incitement to violence and how these developments can be prevented and countered by various actors at state, regional and local level (law enforcement, education systems, etc.), social media platform companies and civil society. The session will also explore how social media can be part of the solution to promote human rights and strengthen democracy. Discussions will also cover media and information literacy.
2.3 Preserving testimonies and developing education for the future
How can we ensure that the testimonies and witnesses of survivors remain accessible and continue to be shared in the future? In order to reach new and changing target groups, diverse forms and methods within Holocaust Education will be explored. This includes coalition-building involving various sectors, such as civil society, experts and academics. Participants will also explore new practices and technologies of reaching out and making an impact.
16.15–17.15 Plenary Session II – ReAct
The Holocaust was driven by hatred against Jews. However, it affected not only Jews but the whole society. Antisemitism is a concern for society as a whole and may be symptomatic of eroding democracy. Contemporary antisemitism, antigypsyism and other forms of racism and intolerance exist in many forms and flourish in different contexts. Wherever we see it, we must both react – and – act. The concluding Plenary Session will focus on action, the steps forward to ensure implementation of the pledges presented at the Forum, and how we can join forces to strengthen the work for Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism and other forms of racism.
This concluding Plenary Session will be opened by the Swedish art music composer, Jacob Mühlrad. Cello soloist Johannes Rostamo will perform “Maggid”, composed by Mühlrad. The Session will end with a musical performance by Swedish singer Lisa Nilsson. The speakers will be:
- President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
- Panel:
President of Finland Sauli Niinistö
Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama
Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany Michael Roth - Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres
- President of European Jewish Congress Moshe Kantor
- COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg
- Panel:
Secretary General of the Secretariat of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Kathrin Meyer
High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Miguel Ángel Moratinos
Minister of Diaspora Affairs of Israel Nachman Shai - Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven.
17.30–18.00 Press Conference
Prime Minister Löfven will host the Malmö Forum press conference.
Heads of Delegations will have the opportunity to hold parallel press conferences
after 18.00.
