ARGENTINA
TAKES OVER IHRA PRESIDENCY
FROM ISRAEL
IHRA
Argentina has assumed the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), with Marcelo Mindlin serving as IHRA Chair, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship.
One of the priorities of the Argentine Presidency will be to strengthen the IHRA’s engagement with Latin America and to facilitate broader access to Holocaust archives.
The Argentine term follows Israel’s tenure under the theme Crossroads of Generations, which underscored the responsibility of passing the torch of Holocaust remembrance from survivors to future generations. The Israeli Presidency saw the adoption of key IHRA resources such as the Recommendations on Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust, the reaffirmation of the Survivors’ Declaration, a statement urging greater governmental protection for Holocaust remembrance institutions and practitioners amid a global rise in antisemitism and distortion, as well as a seminar for early-career Holocaust researchers.
At the handover ceremony held at Palacio San Martín and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outgoing IHRA Chair Dani Dayan said: “As the voices of survivors grow fewer and the forces of distortion loom larger, our collective responsibility grows. Israel’s Presidency led the IHRA toward significant strides in meeting this challenge—adopting new educational tools and launching global initiatives to engage younger generations and to strengthen the Holocaust remembrance community. I thank our partners across the IHRA and am confident that Argentina will continue to advance our vital mission in the year ahead.”
“The IHRA now crosses the equator for the first time in its history. The responsibility to remember belongs to the whole world,” said IHRA Secretary General, Michaela Küchler
Both IHRA plenary meetings during the Argentine Presidency will be held in Buenos Aires. The first is scheduled for 1–4 June, and the second for 2–5 November.
Each plenary session will be preceded by a dedicated conference. On 31 May, the IHRA will mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of its working definition of antisemitism. On 1 November, a regional conference will bring together Latin American countries to focus on Holocaust history and the fight against antisemitism in the region.
IHRA Secretary General Michaela Küchler said: “The IHRA now crosses the equator for the first time in its history. This is more than a geographic milestone. It is a reminder that the responsibility to remember the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma belongs to the whole world.”
The Argentine Presidency represents a historic turning point for the Alliance. A full member of the IHRA for over two decades, Argentina becomes the first country from South America to chair the organization and host its plenary meetings. This term will be guided by the theme Expanding the Frontiers of Remembrance, reflecting a commitment to broadening the geographical and conceptual reach of Holocaust remembrance, education, and research.
Addressing the audience, incoming IHRA Chair Marcelo Mindlin stated: “For over 20 years, all governments—representing various political backgrounds—have recognized the necessity of participating in the IHRA and developing educational and remembrance policies regarding the Holocaust. There is no doubt that this consistent state policy contributed to President Milei’s significant decision to take on the IHRA presidency. A clear example of this enduring legacy is the adoption of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism by the Argentine state, its judiciary, civil society organizations, and other public institutions. It is a crucial tool for combating antisemitism, and our country can proudly demonstrate the effectiveness of its implementation.”
More than 5,000 Holocaust survivors arrived in Argentina after the Second World War, making it home to one of the largest survivor communities in South America. Today, around 150 survivors remain in the country, serving as a vital link between lived history and future generations.
“The IHRA Presidency holds special significance. It is not achieved by chance; it is the result of vision and political will,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pablo Quirno
As Argentina takes on the IHRA Presidency, it does so with a clear commitment to expanding the global reach of remembrance. Through its theme and program of work, the Argentine Presidency will seek to ensure that Holocaust remembrance continues to resonate across borders and generations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Pablo Quirno emphasized that “the IHRA Presidency holds special significance. It is not achieved by chance; it is the result of vision and political will. It reflects Argentina’s understanding that defending the memory of the Holocaust is part of a broader struggle—against falsehood, against fanaticism, and against all forms of moral degradation that threaten free societies. It is also an honor, as this is the first time a South American country has assumed this responsibility.”
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From left to right: IHRA Secretary-General Michaela Küchler, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, IHRA Chair Marcelo Mindlin and outgoing IHRA Chair Dani Dayan