Picture: The Government Offices of Sweden

Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism

In January 2020 Prime Minister Stefan Löfven extended an invitation to heads of state and government, researchers, experts and civil society representatives from around 50 countries to participate in the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, Remember ReAct. The purpose of the Forum is to jointly take concrete steps forward in the work on Holocaust remembrance and the fight against antisemitism.

The Forum was to take place in October 2020, 75 years after the end of the Second World War and the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The year 2020 also marked 20 years since the first Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust, and the establishment of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Due to the unfortunate circumstances of the current pandemic the Prime Minister has announced that the Malmö Forum has been postponed one year. The invitation still stands and the Forum will take place in Malmö on 13–14 October 2021.

Responsible ministries
Prime Minister's Office
Ministry of Education and Research

  • Yehuda Bauer – a suitable pledge at the Malmö Forum

    The purpose of the Forum is to jointly take steps forward in the work on Holocaust remembrance and the fight against antisemitism. The Malmö Forum are asking the participating delegations to commit to concrete actions. We call these commitments pledges.

  • A new national educational material about the Holocaust and antisemitism

    As a part of the national initiative to increase knowledge about the Holocaust and antisemitism, connected to the Malmö Forum Remember ReAct, a national educational material has been produced.

  • The Expert Group of the Malmö Forum holds its first meeting

    • Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    • Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    On 10 March 2021 the Expert Group of the Malmö Forum held its first meeting. The group will serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretariat of the Malmö Forum regarding the content of the programme of the Forum. Anna Ekström, Minister for Education, opened the meeting and stressed the importance of the coming Forum and how this will work as a catalyst for increased action for Holocaust remembrance, education and for actions to combat antisemitism.

  • Stefan Löfven on pledges at the Malmö Forum

    Participating delegations are asked to commit to concrete actions and present them at the Malmö Forum. We call these commitments pledges. To clarify what we mean by a pledge in this context, and as a source of inspiration, we will invite various experts to present proposals regarding pledges, says Stefan Löfven in a short film.

  • The Swedish Holocaust Museum will be established in Stockholm

    Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Minister for Education Anna Ekström and Minister for Culture and democracy Amanda Lind.
    Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Minister for Education Anna Ekström and Minister for Culture and democracy Amanda Lind. Photo: Government Offices Of Sweden

    The Statement of Government Policy presented by Stefan Löfven in the Riksdag in January 2019 announced that a new museum would be established to preserve and perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust. Today, 27 January, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Government has announced that the museum is to be established in July 2022 and that it will be located in Stockholm.

  • Sweden to lead the work of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2022–23

    Annika Ben David, Ambassador for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law and Head of Sweden's delegation to the IHRA.
    Annika Ben David, Ambassador for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law and Head of Sweden's delegation to the IHRA. Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    Sweden has been entrusted with holding the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from 1 March 2022 until 28 February 2023. The decision was taken at the IHRA’s digital plenary meeting in Leipzig on 3 December 2020.

  • Sweden to lead the work of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

    Sweden has been entrusted with holding the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) – an intergovernmental organisation to promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance – from 1 March 2022 until 28 February 2023. The decision was taken at the IHRA’s digital plenary meeting in Leipzig on 3 December 2020.

  • Preparations connected to the establishment of a Swedish Holocaust museum

    Stefan Löfven in Yad Vashem
    Stefan Löfven in Yad Vashem Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    The Living History Forum will receive SEK 10 million to start preparations connected to the establishment of a Swedish museum to preserve and perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust. One starting point is documenting the stories of Swedish Holocaust survivors.

  • Stefan Löfven on racism during Statement of Government Policy

    Stefan Löfven during the statement of government policy.
    Stefan Löfven during the statement of government policy. Photo: Goverment Offices of Sweden

    “Despite the fact that racism and Nazism should have been relegated to the scrapheap of history long, long ago, they are flourishing today. All members of society must be involved in stopping racism in all its forms and expressions", said Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in the Statement of Government Policy.

  • Anna Ekström opens exhibitions on Sweden and the Holocaust

    Anna Ekström at Living History Forum
    Anna Ekström at Living History Forum Photo: Goverment Offices of Sweden

    “By learning about our history we can strengthen and defend our open and democratic Swedish society today and in the future”, says Minister for Education Anna Ekström.

  • Swedish version of Dimensions in Testimony recorded

    Anna Ekström in digital meeting
    Anna Ekström in digital meeting Photo: Government Offices of Sweden

    The 3 September Anna Ekström had a digital meeting with Elisabeth Citrom, Holocaust survivor. Mrs Citrom’s eyewitness testimony from the Holocaust is currently being documented for the Swedish version of Dimensions in Testimony.

  • Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven postpones Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism

    The world is facing a new, and severe, challenge. The spread of the new coronavirus and COVID-19 is challenging our countries. We are all working to fight the pandemic and its effects. Due to this, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has announced that the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism 2020 has been postponed.

News

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and minister for Education, Anna Ekström at the The Swedish History Museum
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Minister for Education Anna Ekström at the The Swedish History Museum. Photo: Ninni Andersson, Government Offices

National initiative to increase knowledge about the Holocaust and antisemitism

In connection with the Government’s International Forum for Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, the Government is allocating SEK 10 million to a national initiative to increase knowledge in schools and society.

State Secretary Kristina Persdotter with representatives of civil society organisations.
State Secretary Kristina Persdotter with representatives of civil society organisations. Photo: Government Offices

Hearing with representatives of civil society organisations

The 26 February State Secretary Kristina Persdotter hosted a hearing for representatives of civil society organisations.

Meeting with Ambassadors.
Meeting with Ambassadors representing the countries that have been invited to the International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. Photo: Government offices

Meeting with Ambassadors

The 10 February 2020 Ms. Karin Wallensteen, State Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Ms. Kristina Persdotter, State Secretary to the Minister for Education, hosted a second meeting for Ambassadors representing the countries that have been invited to the International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.

The programme

  • The programme

    Using an interactive approach and with a firm historical basis, the programme will focus on the four main themes: 1. Holocaust remembrance, 2. Holocaust education, 3. Antisemitism on social media platforms and 4. Combating antisemitism and other forms of racism in all spheres of life

  • Holocaust remembrance

    Today few survivors can still bear witness to the horrors of the Holocaust. We must reflect on the consequences of the diminishing number of survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust. We have an international obligation to ensure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect on its consequences.

  • Holocaust education

    Education about the Holocaust in our schools, universities and other institutions can promote tolerance and respect, and prevent and combat antisemitism and other forms of racism. Pupils, students, teachers and society as a whole should acquire not only knowledge about history, but also the abilities needed for active citizenship in a democratic society.

  • Antisemitism on social media platforms

    Antisemitism, defamation, propaganda, conspiracy theories and incitement to hatred or violence remain widespread and are often disseminated via social media platforms. There is a need to address the role of social media platforms in this context and – at the same time – improve users’ media literacy.

  • Combating antisemitism and other forms of racism in all spheres of life

    Antisemitism is a concern for society as a whole and can be a symptom of an eroding democracy. The Holocaust was driven by antisemitism and hatred against Jews, but it affected not only Jews but the whole society. Contemporary antisemitism exists in many forms and prospers in different environments. It lives in symbiosis with other forms of racism. There is a need to broaden our understanding of antisemitism in the world today and fight all its forms as well as other forms of racism.

  1. The programme
  2. Holocaust remembrance
  3. Holocaust education
  4. Antisemitism on social media platforms
  5. Combating antisemitism and other forms of racism in all spheres of life

About

Background

In May 1998, on the eve of the new millennium, Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the President of the United States Bill Clinton agreed to set up a Task Force to promote international cooperation on Holocaust education, remembrance and research.

Participants

Participants will include heads of state or government from member and observer countries of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), EU Member States, the Nordic countries and a small number of other countries and IHRA Permanent International Partners.

Envisaged outcome

The envisioned outcome of the Forum – in addition to reaffirming the Stockholm Declaration and the 2020 IHRA Ministerial Declaration – is concrete action furthering the work within the themes of the Forum.

Combating antisemitism in Sweden

A range of measures to combat antisemitism and increase security have been implemented and are ongoing. The measures are carried out both by the Government and by government agencies on behalf of the Swedish Government. For example, in connection with the forum, the Government intends to implement a national initiative that will include schools. Some other measures are outlined here.

National plan to combat racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime

National plan to combat racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime The overarching objective of this plan is strategic, effective and coherent work to combat racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime in Sweden.

The city of Malmö

The city of Malmö has extended an invitation to host the Forum. The city and the surrounding region have special historical links to the Holocaust. Jews who fled across the Öresund strait between Denmark and Sweden during World War II came to Malmö.

The venue of the Malmö Forum is set to be Malmömässan.

Content about REMEMBER – REACT

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