We regularly comment on current events that overlap with the IHRA's mandate. Statements can come from the IHRA Chair, IHRA Secretary General, or, when consensus is reached among all Member Countries, by the IHRA in the form of an IHRA Statement.
Following the conclusion on 9 December 2016 of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Hamburg, I would like to commend the efforts and the strong commitment of the German Chairmanship to promote the endorsement by OSCE of the working definition of antisemitism previously adopted by the IHRA.
I am grateful to the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Frank Walter Steinmeier, and his team for the continuous efforts in the last months to advance a consensus on this matter. I also praise the contribution to these efforts by Rabbi Andrew Baker, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office on Combating Antisemitism.
I have taken note of the outcome of the debates within the OSCE Ministerial Council regarding the Definition on antisemitism, which were regretfully impeded by some positions which are difficult to reconcile with the democratic nature of the IHRA community.
At the same time, as IHRA Chair, I am grateful to all EU member states for their common stance in supporting the adoption of the Definition on antisemitism put forward by the OSCE. This is a commendable and worthy achievement for all the EU members and on behalf of the IHRA I express our praise and appreciation to each of them.
The IHRA will be ready to work with the future OSCE Chairmanship to consolidate governments’ support for the adoption of the definition. The needed support will be proof of the credibility for respecting and defending human values.
IHRA Chair Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is deeply concerned by the ongoing property dispute between the government of Moldova and the Jewish community of Moldova involving the Rabbi Tsirilson Synagogue and the Magen David Yeshiva.
The IHRA feels strongly that the serious efforts being made by the Jewish community to restore these properties should be met with encouragement and support from the government.
As Moldova demonstrated its commitment to issues of Holocaust education, research and remembrance by becoming an IHRA observer country in 2014 and by declaring 27 January the Day of Commemoration for the Victims of the Holocaust on 26 November 2015, the IHRA feels confident that a mutually acceptable solution to the current dispute can be found that will allow the preservation of these important buildings.
The Rabbi Tsirilson synagogue and the Magen David Yeshiva form an essential part of the history of Moldova and the government is urged to preserve them accordingly.
The Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance strongly condemns the attack on the Roma Community in Loschchynivka, Ukraine.
Media and NGO sources reported that following allegations on 27 August that the tragic murder of a 9-year old girl could be linked to a Romani man, villagers attacked the local Roma community.
According to the media reports, following the damage suffered to their homes and property, the local Roma community was forced to flee and urgently needs to be rehoused. The Roma Community “voluntarily” agreed to permanently leave the village after discussions with the district council on 28 August.
In accordance with the Stockholm Declaration, which clearly states: “With humanity still scarred by genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, antisemitism and xenophobia, the international community shares a solemn responsibility to fight those evils”, the IHRA requests that the Ukrainian authorities publicly and clearly denounce these actions and act swiftly to provide secure housing for those affected.
ODIHR Director Link and IHRA Chair Constantinescu, on day to commemorate genocide against Roma and Sinti, say greater efforts needed to protect endangered memorial sites and ensure dignity of victims.
WARSAW/ BUCHAREST, 2 August 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), called today for greater efforts to protect endangered memorial sites related to the Roma and Sinti genocide during World War II. Speaking on the occasion of the commemoration of the liquidation of the “Gypsy family camp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, when the close to 3,000 remaining Roma and Sinti in the camp were murdered, they stressed that states have to do more to demonstrate their sincere and strong commitment to education about and remembrance of the genocide.
“Positively, we have seen increasing attention in recent years on the part of OSCE participating States to commemorate the Roma and Sinti genocide, and to educate people about this horrible event. This practice and these experiences should be widely shared and replicated,” Director Link said. “Promoting understanding of the Holocaust and its effect on different communities can help to create empathy and promote equality and non-discrimination for all.”
“Accurate and ethical education about the Holocaust includes the respectful and dignified preservation of memorial sites”, said Ambassador Constantinescu. “States have to take resolute action to protect endangered memorial sites and to continue to do more to commemorate the Roma and Sinti victims. The history of these endangered sites should be included as part of broader efforts to educate about the consequences of indifference to racism.”
The leaders called on governments to ensure that endangered memorial sites for Roma and Sinti victims are preserved and protected, to include this history as an integral part of civic and human rights education in their countries. They stressed that current developments, including a disturbing rise in xenophobic public rhetoric and racism, mean it is even more essential to build strong alliances among different communities.
In 2003, with the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, the OSCE participating States committed themselves to strengthen education about the Roma and Sinti genocide. Through its Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) promotes knowledge about and recognition of the plight of Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust to counter present-day discrimination and racism, and to promote tolerance. According to ODIHR’s recent publication Teaching about and Commemorating the Roma and Sinti Genocide: Practices within the OSCE Area, seven OSCE participating States officially commemorate the Roma and Sinti genocide on 2 August, while a larger number of states commemorate the Roma and Sinti victims on the International Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is an intergovernmental organization and the foremost international network of political leaders and professionals advancing and shaping Holocaust education, remembrance and research. Its 31 member countries are committed to the tenets of the Stockholm Declaration. The IHRA Committee on the Genocide of the Roma aims to increase the commitment of IHRA Member Countries to educate, research and commemorate the genocide of the Roma.
ODIHR Director Link and IHRA Chair Constantinescu, on day to commemorate genocide against Roma and Sinti, say greater efforts needed to protect endangered memorial sites and ensure dignity of victims.
WARSAW/ BUCHAREST, 2 August 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), called today for greater efforts to protect endangered memorial sites related to the Roma and Sinti genocide during World War II. Speaking on the occasion of the commemoration of the liquidation of the “Gypsy family camp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, when the close to 3,000 remaining Roma and Sinti in the camp were murdered, they stressed that states have to do more to demonstrate their sincere and strong commitment to education about and remembrance of the genocide.
“Positively, we have seen increasing attention in recent years on the part of OSCE participating States to commemorate the Roma and Sinti genocide, and to educate people about this horrible event. This practice and these experiences should be widely shared and replicated,” Director Link said. “Promoting understanding of the Holocaust and its effect on different communities can help to create empathy and promote equality and non-discrimination for all.”
“Accurate and ethical education about the Holocaust includes the respectful and dignified preservation of memorial sites”, said Ambassador Constantinescu. “States have to take resolute action to protect endangered memorial sites and to continue to do more to commemorate the Roma and Sinti victims. The history of these endangered sites should be included as part of broader efforts to educate about the consequences of indifference to racism.”
The leaders called on governments to ensure that endangered memorial sites for Roma and Sinti victims are preserved and protected, to include this history as an integral part of civic and human rights education in their countries. They stressed that current developments, including a disturbing rise in xenophobic public rhetoric and racism, mean it is even more essential to build strong alliances among different communities.
In 2003, with the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, the OSCE participating States committed themselves to strengthen education about the Roma and Sinti genocide. Through its Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) promotes knowledge about and recognition of the plight of Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust to counter present-day discrimination and racism, and to promote tolerance. According to ODIHR’s recent publication Teaching about and Commemorating the Roma and Sinti Genocide: Practices within the OSCE Area, seven OSCE participating States officially commemorate the Roma and Sinti genocide on 2 August, while a larger number of states commemorate the Roma and Sinti victims on the International Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is an intergovernmental organization and the foremost international network of political leaders and professionals advancing and shaping Holocaust education, remembrance and research. Its 31 member countries are committed to the tenets of the Stockholm Declaration. The IHRA Committee on the Genocide of the Roma aims to increase the commitment of IHRA Member Countries to educate, research and commemorate the genocide of the Roma.
A message from the IHRA Chair on the passing of Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize for Peace Laureate and Holocaust survivor.
“On behalf of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance I express my deepest sadness at the passing of the Nobel Prize for Peace laureate, Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, and send my heartfelt condolences to his family.
Elie Wiesel will be remembered for the strong and vibrant messages which he sent to the next generations to make every possible effort to not forget the tragedy of the Holocaust and, above all, to act in solidarity so that such a tragedy will never be repeated again. He was a tireless and respected campaigner for freedom and human rights, a promoter of understanding and dialogue among people.
May his memory be blessed and always be remembered.”
Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Romania and survived the atrocities of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Following the dramatic years that influenced his youth, Elie Wiesel became one of the leading figures worldwide in the constant fight to keep the memory of the Holocaust and the consequences of these events for humanity alive. In 1986 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in recognition of his efforts in fighting against extremism and for promoting remembrance of the Holocaust. The International Nobel Committee named Elie Wiesel “the messenger of humanity”.
Elie Wiesel will always remain in the hearts and memory of Romanians as the personality who inspired the establishment of the Holocaust Remembrance national institutions and the creation of the national consensus for assuming the truth about Romania’s involvement in the Holocaust tragedy. In 2003, Elie Wiesel became Chair of the International Commission for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania that led to a report assumed by the Parliament and the entire society.
Elie Wiesel attended the first Stockholm Forum on the Holocaust in the year 2000 as then Honorary Chairman. At the ceremonial opening of the Forum, Wiesel addressed high-ranking political leaders and officials from more than forty-six countries, expressing his honour at opening the international Forum. Wiesel commended the enthusiastic responses of governments but made clear that the meeting in Stockholm was only the beginning: “Beginnings need to have their own future. In other words our beginning requires a worthy continuation. You have done so muich already. It is only natural for us to expect more.”
A message from the IHRA Chair on the passing of Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize for Peace Laureate and Holocaust survivor.
“On behalf of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance I express my deepest sadness at the passing of the Nobel Prize for Peace laureate, Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, and send my heartfelt condolences to his family.
Elie Wiesel will be remembered for the strong and vibrant messages which he sent to the next generations to make every possible effort to not forget the tragedy of the Holocaust and, above all, to act in solidarity so that such a tragedy will never be repeated again. He was a tireless and respected campaigner for freedom and human rights, a promoter of understanding and dialogue among people.
May his memory be blessed and always be remembered.”
Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Romania and survived the atrocities of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Following the dramatic years that influenced his youth, Elie Wiesel became one of the leading figures worldwide in the constant fight to keep the memory of the Holocaust and the consequences of these events for humanity alive. In 1986 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in recognition of his efforts in fighting against extremism and for promoting remembrance of the Holocaust. The International Nobel Committee named Elie Wiesel “the messenger of humanity”.
Elie Wiesel will always remain in the hearts and memory of Romanians as the personality who inspired the establishment of the Holocaust Remembrance national institutions and the creation of the national consensus for assuming the truth about Romania’s involvement in the Holocaust tragedy. In 2003, Elie Wiesel became Chair of the International Commission for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania that led to a report assumed by the Parliament and the entire society.
Elie Wiesel attended the first Stockholm Forum on the Holocaust in the year 2000 as then Honorary Chairman. At the ceremonial opening of the Forum, Wiesel addressed high-ranking political leaders and officials from more than forty-six countries, expressing his honour at opening the international Forum. Wiesel commended the enthusiastic responses of governments but made clear that the meeting in Stockholm was only the beginning: “Beginnings need to have their own future. In other words our beginning requires a worthy continuation. You have done so much already. It is only natural for us to expect more.”
It was with great concern and disappointment that I learned of an exposition of Holocaust denial cartoons in Tehran following a competition sponsored by two Iranian cultural organizations, as part of the Cartoon Biennale.
It must remain clear that any attempt to claim that the Holocaust did not take place or to minimize or blur responsibility for the genocide is an attack on the memory of the victims and memory of the Holocaust. On behalf of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, I denounce this disgraceful competition and express my strong criticism that the exposition is being allowed to take place.
Such an irrational response to one of the greatest tragedies in European and world history is provocative and must be condemned. In addition, such initiatives damage the perception of Iran in a global context, running against the high expectations held regarding Iran’s openness towards mutual respect and cooperation with the international community. I very much hope that the authorities in Teheran will take all necessary steps to prevent the exhibition of these offensive cartoons.
Mihnea Constantinescu
IHRA Chair
