2023 Holocaust Remembrance Conference: Remembering the past. Shaping the future.

Programme

1. 23 Jan 2023, 17:00 - 17:30 (CET)

   Opening statements by:

   • Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life 
   • Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, Sweden
   • Ambassador Ann Bernes, Chair of the Swedish Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
   • Professor Yehuda Bauer, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Honorary Chair, video message 
2. 17:00 - 19:00 (CET)

   Moderator

   Isabelle Kumar

3. 17:30 - 18:00 (CET)

   Conversation

   • Henriette Kretz, Holocaust Survivor
4. 18:00 - 18:05 (CET)

   Reading of a letter from the Warsaw Ghetto
5. 18:05 - 18:10 (CET)

   Musical interlude

   by Musica Mundi children 

6. 18:10 - 18:20 (CET)

   Commemoration Ceremony

   • El Maleh Rachamim 
   • Kaddish 
   • Lighting of candles
   • Moment of Silence
7. 18:20 - 18:45 (CET)

   Conversation on 'Where the Holocaust Happened'

   • Andrea Szőnyi, Director Zachor Foundation Hungary and Acting Deputy Director of Programs at USC Shoah Foundation, IHRA Delegate 
   • Dr. Gilly Carr, Associate Professor in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, IHRA Delegate and Chair of ‘Safeguarding Sites’ Project
   • Dr. Andreas Kahrs, Founder and Managing Director of the Agency “what matters”, Consultant to World Jewish Congress 
8. Show 2 more items
9. 18:55 - 19:00 (CET)

   Concluding remarks

   by Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life 

Practical information

Description

This conference is part of European Commission's commitment to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, as stated in the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.

The Holocaust is a defining legacy of European history, during which six million Jewish children, women and men were murdered. While Jews were the priority target of the Nazi regime, other groups were also persecuted, including Roma, persons with disabilities, Slavs, Jehovah’s witnesses, LGBTIQ people and political dissidents.

For decades, Holocaust survivors have shared their stories as part of the remembrance tradition. Preserving and honoring their legacy, making sure their stories are not forgotten and are retold accurately are duties for this generation and future generations of Europeans. Holocaust survivor Henriette Kretz will share her personal story, in a conversation with a young European.

As stated in the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, new ways of raising awareness must be developed, in particular in a local context, where places 'where the Holocaust happened' are not often visible. The European Commission committed to support the creation of a network of sites ‘Where the Holocaust happened’ in cooperation with local communities. A panel of three experts, Andrea Szőnyi, Dr. Gilly Carr and Dr. Andreas Kahrs, will reflect on how best to establish such a network and discuss the needs of Holocaust sites in Europe.