19 January 2021
Time to read: 4 mins
This month, the IHRA will launch three important international initiatives, essential pieces to furthering the IHRA’s work of raising awareness of Holocaust distortion on multiple fronts:
Holocaust distortion excuses, minimizes, or misrepresents the known historical record of the Holocaust. Distortion is becoming increasingly prevalent in contemporary culture, from media to politics and across the ideological spectrum. A survey of Millennials and Gen Z in all 50 US states conducted by the Claims Conference and published in September 2020 revealed that approximately half (49%) had seen Holocaust denial and distortion posts online. This problem is of course not confined to the Unites States, however. Holocaust distortion is an international phenomenon and can be found all over the world, in all corners of society.
Despite its prevalence, the issue of Holocaust distortion benefits from a general lack of awareness. Harder to identify than Holocaust denial, it is often left unchecked. Because it is often the first step toward more radical forms of antisemitism, conspiracy-thinking, and anti-democratic behavior, it is nevertheless just as dangerous. Countering it requires the participation of all of society, working together to address this issue. To help in this effort, the German Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance established the Global Task Force Against Holocaust Distortion. Now, three major initiatives connected to this Task Force are being launched this month.
The result of close cooperation among IHRA and external experts, “Recognizing and Countering Holocaust Distortion: Recommendations for Policy and Decision Makers” provides policy and decision makers with the tools they need to begin addressing Holocaust distortion. The publication provides recommendations for identifying and monitoring Holocaust distortion, training programs, strengthening Holocaust-related institutions, and recognizing and responding to distortion online.
The publication launch will be accompanied by a virtual event for IHRA delegates and special guests. Experts, Heads of Delegation and representatives of the IHRA’s Permanent International Partners will discuss the challenges of addressing Holocaust distortion, focusing on ways the Recommendations will be implemented and special areas of attention.
“The Recommendations published today and the upcoming Protect the Facts campaign both represent promising first steps toward countering Holocaust distortion worldwide. An initiative of the German Presidency and a part of the Global Task Force Against Holocaust Distorsion that Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called for a year ago, these efforts, based on international cooperation, are examples of practice to follow. Holocaust distortion is a problem that does not stop at national borders and requires an international response. I can only encourage the widespread use of these Recommendations, which provide helpful guidance on how to adequately respond to the use of Nazi symbols, ‘Camp Auschwitz’ T-shirts and yellow Stars of David at demonstrations or co-opted online,” IHRA Chair Ambassador Michaela Küchler said.
On 25 January 2021, the IHRA, together with the European Commission, the United Nations and UNESCO, will launch a global campaign, Protect the Facts. This year-long initiative seeks to raise awareness of the importance of recognizing and countering Holocaust distortion among policymakers, Holocaust-related institutions, civil society, and the general public.
The campaign highlights that countering distortion is all our responsibility and calls upon us all to #ProtectTheFacts and #SayNoToDistortion.
In honor of the victims of the Holocaust and to mark the German IHRA Presidency, Chancellor Angela Merkel will give the keynote address at a joint commemoration ceremony which the IHRA will hold in cooperation with the UN and UNESCO on 27 January 2021. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNESCO Director-General Azoulay will also pay tribute to the victims of Nazi persecution in the online ceremony.
The ceremony is followed by an online panel discussion on Holocaust denial and distortion with the participation of Robert Williams, the Chair of the Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial, Vice-President of the International Auschwitz Committee Marian Turski, Kindertransport survivor Hella Pick, historian Deborah Lipstadt and author Philippe Sands. CNN, the IHRA’s media partner for this panel discussion, will stream this important event and CNN anchor Hala Gorani will moderate the discussion.
The event will also be streamed on 5PM CET by UN Web TV and via the IHRA’s Facebook page, and it is possible to register here. The full program can be found here.
We are leading global efforts to tackle the growing threat of Holocaust denial and distortion.
This short film on Holocaust distortion offers a first introduction to the topic using an international lens and explains the pressing need to address it.
The Strategy proposes measures to prevent all forms of antisemitism, protect and foster Jewish life, and promote Holocaust remembrance.
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