THE HOLOCAUST AND THE UNITED NATIONS OUTREACH PROGRAMME

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The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme
Canadian Chair Year
International Activities: As IHRA Chair, in addition to supporting ongoing
activities, Canada will seek to improve co-operation with international
organizations, with a view to coordinating efforts to prevent
genocide and combat anti-Semitism, xenophobia, hate crimes, and
other forms of extremism. We will work with Permanent Observers,
and also explore other possible partnerships.
I will visit IHRA observer countries, Portugal, the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey, to encourage their ascension
to full membership, and continue outreach to non-IHRA states such
as Ukraine. Canada believes that the international community shares
a responsibility to learn from the Holocaust and that IHRA provides
an important platform to help prevent future human rights abuses.
I will also encourage greater transparency and communication of
IHRA priorities and progress through an annual report to highlight
initiatives in member states, IHRA-funded projects and efforts of
expert working groups.
National Activities: With the support of active community partners,
the Government of Canada has invested significantly in Holocaust
education, remembrance and research, including major projects such
as the creation of a National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa and a
Canadian Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg. In conjunction with
the Chair year, Canada will support a number of new initiatives aimed
at increasing the understanding of the Holocaust across Canada.
The Government of Canada will provide funding to help preserve
survivors’ testimony. Our country has been profoundly shaped by
the 40,000 Holocaust survivors who settled in Canada after the war.
Survivors have been a vital component of Holocaust education in
Canada and preserving their testimony is crucial as we move to a
post-survivor environment.
In acknowledgement of the vital contributions teachers make, the
Government of Canada will present a national award to an educator
who demonstrates best practices in Holocaust education.