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 in October 2020. 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 marks 20 years since the first Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust was held, and the establishment of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Due to the unfortunate circumstances of the current pandemic Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has announced that the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism has been postponed one year. The invitation still stands and the Forum in Malmö will take place in Malmö on 13–14 October 2021.

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

  • 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 three main themes: 1. Holocaust remembrance, 2. Holocaust education and 3. Antisemitism on social media platforms.

  • 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.

  1. The programme
  2. Holocaust remembrance
  3. Holocaust education
  4. Antisemitism on social media platforms

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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