Ambassador Georges Santer, the IHRA Chair said: “We are delighted that ministers from around the world have adopted the 2020 Declaration today so that current and future generations do not forget the tragic events of the past and the historical record of the Holocaust is safeguarded. Against the backdrop of rising antisemitism, today's declaration is absolutely crucial. As the IHRA Honorary Chairman, Yehuda Bauer, always says antisemitism is not a threat only to Jews but is a destructive force for our societies in general. IHRA Member Countries are obliged to fight these dangerous developments, safeguard the historical record of the past and honour Holocaust victims and survivors today and IHRA will support all Member Countries to do so.”
Foreign Affairs Minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn said: “The Government of Luxembourg is proud that during our year long tenure chairing the IHRA, we have worked with all Member Countries to unite them and renew their commitment to tackling antisemitism, marked through the adoption of this ministerial declaration today. As we see the global rise of antisemitism taking new forms, it is more urgent than ever that national governments come together and confront this evil. The Government of Luxembourg has worked with IHRA to ensure our collective resolve will not fade and we urge all members to enact the principles of the declaration agreed today. The Declaration itself must be in the coming years a source of inspiration, exhortation and motivation for the work of the Alliance.”
Ms. Edith Bruck, Holocaust survivor and keynote speaker at the meeting said: “Holocaust distortion and denial is both deeply offensive to the memory of victims and to me as a survivor. I witnessed first-hand the horrors of what can happen when antisemitism and genocide are not challenged. I am incredibly grateful to IHRA and its members today for committing to this historic declaration to help societies remember the atrocities that I and millions of others went through and to take a further step towards a world without genocide.”
The high-ranking government representatives of the meeting were also addressed by Robert Badinter, former Minister of Justice for France and Professor Yehuda Bauer, IHRA Honorary Chairman.
IHRA is an intergovernmental body whose purpose is to unite governments and experts to strengthen, advance, and promote Holocaust education, remembrance, and research and uphold the commitments of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration. The IHRA is composed of 34 Member Countries, 1 Liaison Country, 7 Observer Country and 8 Permanent International Partner Organizations.