BERLIN, 26 June 2025 – The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) successfully concluded its first plenary meeting under Israel’s Presidency, which was held online from 23–26 June 2025.
Guided by the Israeli Presidency’s theme, “Crossroads of Generations,” the plenary sessions reflected a shared commitment of IHRA’s 35 member countries to passing on the torch of Holocaust remembrance from survivors to future generations.
Reflecting on this theme in his opening speech, Dani Dayan, IHRA Chair during the Israeli Presidency 2025, said:
“Our message today is no less vital than before, perhaps even more so. Our conviction and commitment are no less robust. The areas over which the IHRA has gained a distinct and precious global mandate – research, education, and commemoration of the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma – demand our accurate, expert-based attention.
“That is why we must devote efforts and resources to nurturing the next generation of Holocaust researchers, who will help guide us past the Crossroads.”
As the last survivors leave us, the IHRA stands at a crossroads.
Honoring survivor voices and engaging the next generation
Dani Dayan also urged all countries to pledge their commitment to the Survivors’ Declaration, first issued in 2002 at Yad Vashem, and a foundational document of the Israeli Presidency. The Declaration reaffirms the enduring moral voice of survivors, urging the world to uphold human dignity, confront rising antisemitism, and safeguard Holocaust memory. 80 years since the end of the Holocaust, and 23 years since it was conceived, the moral message of this key declaration is remarkably relevant today.Dayan reiterated the Israeli Presidency’s call upon concerned persons everywhere to add their personal signatures to the Survivors’ Declaration.
In her address IHRA Secretary General, Michaela Küchler, echoed the importance of survivor voices, recalling the story of Holocaust victim Heinrich Michel, a shoemaker from Würzburg, whose memory was preserved through a single photograph and a handwritten testimony by his sister in the archives of Yad Vashem.
“As the last survivors leave us, the IHRA stands at a crossroads. We must remind ourselves that remembrance is not only an act of mourning. It is a moral imperative.”
Michaela further called on delegates to rejuvenate, recommit, and refinance the IHRA’s mission. Her proposals included launching an IHRA Youth Ambassadors Program to engage new generations and exploring future ways to harness the power of social media.
Addressing today’s challenges
The plenary opened with a session examining the global rise in antisemitism and its impact on Holocaust remembrance, education, and research. Top experts presented their research on the various forms in which contemporary antisemitism manifests, and IHRA delegates shared insights into how their own professional fields have been impacted by antisemitism, and the steps they have taken to counteract this.
Speaking about the IHRA’s important role in addressing antisemitism, Advisor to the IHRA, Robert Williams, said: “The only solution is dialogue and a common resolve to understand and address antisemitism in all its forms. This is the task of the IHRA, because only the IHRA crosses the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Only the IHRA allows experts to drive the agenda, not potentially well-intentioned but nevertheless restricted policymakers.”
Our message today is no less vital than before. Our conviction and commitment are no less robust.
Defending remembrance
The Plenary session on Thursday adopted and released an IHRA statement in support of Holocaust remembrance institutions, organizations, and professionals. Initiated by the Israeli Presidency, the statement affirms the IHRA’s unwavering commitment to support and protect those safeguarding Holocaust memory in the face of an “alarming upsurge in expressions of Holocaust distortion and antisemitism.”Furthermore, the statement exhorts governments and civil societies to redouble their support for the worldwide community of Shoah remembrance practitioners.
Advancing inclusive education about the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma
A focus of the plenaryweek was the IHRA’s work to strengthen Holocaust education and raise awareness of the genocide of the Roma. This included updates to the Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust, a cornerstone IHRA resource. The updatesaddress emerging challenges such as the ethical use of AI tools in the classroom and the need for age-appropriate materials. Meanwhile, the Committee on the Genocide of the Roma focused on the implementation of the IHRA Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Persecution and Genocide of the Roma during the Nazi Era. Delegates explored how uptake can be supported across Member Countries and discussed good practices and challenges related to Roma representation in museums and memorials.
The only solution is dialogue and a common resolve.
Broadening global engagement and cooperation
The Plenarysessionwas also marked by a number ofotherkey institutional milestones, including Albania becoming an Observer Country. Additionally, Cyprus was invited to apply to become a Liaison Country, further deepening international cooperation and broadening the IHRA’s regional partnerships.The European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) was also invited to become a Permanent International Partner, in recognition of its vital role in safeguarding the historical record of the Holocaust. This plenary week marked a critical stage in advancing the IHRA’s mission: to remember the past, confront rising challenges, and ensure that the legacy of the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma is carried forward with integrity and purpose. The next plenary is scheduled to take place in Jerusalem in December 2025.
Today, Israel assumes the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from the United Kingdom. Dani Dayan, Chairman of Yad Vashem, is the IHRA Chair during the Israeli Presidency.
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