“We share a commitment to throw light on the still obscured shadows of the Holocaust.”
-- Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust
IHRA in Bern
16.11.2017
From 27-30 November, 2017, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance holds its second bi-annual Plenary Meeting under the Swiss Chairmanship in Bern.
Over four days almost 200 experts and policymakers from the IHRA’s 31 Member Countries, one Liaison Country, ten Observer Countries, and seven international partner organisations gather to discuss Holocaust education, research and remembrance as a contemporary political issue. The current Chair of the IHRA is Ambassador Benno Baettig.
At the meetings in Bern, the IHRA delegates are focussing on topics such as supporting the protection and preservation of Holocaust-related sites throughout its Member Countries and beyond, as well as sharing good practices in the field of Holocaust education, research and remembrance. Following up on the Geneva Plenary meetings, the Plenary will continue to discuss a strategy framework to make the work of the IHRA more efficient and effective.
On Sunday, 26 November, a conference was held on the murder of people with disabilities and the Holocaust together with the Paedagogische Hochschule Bern and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.
Read the press release and view the photos from the conference
On Monday 27 November a reception for delegates was held together with the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities. Addressing participants, Benno Bättig underlined the importance of remembrance, stating "We remember to commemorate those who lost their lives. Let us also remember for those who survived - and for those who came after."
Mr. Herbert Winter, President of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities, also addressed the IHRA delegates and guests, including a number of Holocaust survivors, who were invited by the Swiss Chairmanship.
The IHRA unites governments and experts to strengthen, advance and promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research worldwide, and to uphold the commitments of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration.
Media Contact:
Laura Robertson Visit our website
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Find us on Facebook
lrobertson[at] holocaustremembrance [dott] com Follow us on Twitter
Image: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.