THE HOLOCAUST AND THE UNITED NATIONS OUTREACH PROGRAMME

63
Why We Need
the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance
by Mr. Mario Silva,
2013 Chair, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
The Holocaust was an unprecedented crime against humanity
and a defining historical moment, one that fundamentally altered
how the world views and treats acts of genocide. As such, it provides
us with many important lessons that can help prevent such
crimes from happening again. The challenge is to ensure that
those lessons are remembered, shared and applied. In this way,
the world can honour the memory of those we failed to protect.
It was with this goal, conceived in 1998 by then Swedish
Prime Minister Göran Persson — as the Task Force
for International Co-operation on Holocaust Education,
Remembrance and Research — that the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) came into being.
IHRA is a unique international body, with country delegations that
include government officials and non-governmental Holocaust
experts — academics, museum professionals, educators and researchers.
The Chair of IHRA rotates annually between member states and
Canada is proud to be the Chair from March 2013 to March 2014.