UNESCO working in partnership with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to counter Holocaust distortion

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) are publishing new guidelines for policymakers to counter Holocaust distortion in partnership with UNESCO.

The guidelines are published ahead of a joint online campaign to raise awareness of the dangers posed by Holocaust distortion with the IHRA, the United Nations and the European Commission. The #ProtectTheFacts campaign empowers policymakers, civil society and individuals to recognize and counter Holocaust distortion.

The IHRA defines Holocaust denial as any attempt to claim that the Holocaust did not take place, whereas Holocaust distortion excuses, minimizes, or misrepresents the history of the Holocaust. By twisting and misrepresenting historical facts and evidence, Holocaust denial and distortion rehabilitates National Socialism and promotes antisemitic ideologies and violent extremism. Like any form of antisemitism, it threatens the realization of fundamental human rights, undermines social cohesion and may motivate hate crimes.

The guidelines, “Recognizing and Countering Holocaust Distortion: Recommendations for Policy and Decision Makers”, support policymakers to recognize and monitor forms of Holocaust distortion and provide tools and strategies to counter their transmission in society and on social media. Through education, training programs, and by strengthening institutions that study and research the Holocaust, member states and civil society can effectively respond to attempts to distort history.

The year-long Protect the Facts campaign raises the awareness of the general public to the dangers of Holocaust distortion. It builds their capacity to identify its manifestation and provides them with a toolkit to challenge all forms of distortion, available in six languages.

The guidelines and global campaign are launched ahead of a panel discussion on Holocaust denial and distortion on 27 January co-hosted by UNESCO, the IHRA, the United Nations and in partnership with CNN. The round-table, part of series of events to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, will discuss the threat posed by Holocaust distortion and opportunities for the international community to address and counter it.

UNESCO is a permanent international partner of the IHRA. Their joint activities to counter Holocaust distortion build upon UNESCO’s programmes to educate about the Holocaust and to address antisemitism through education.