The first plenary meeting under the UK's presidency of the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) took
place in Glasgow from 24 to 27 June, chaired by , UK Special Envoy on
Post-Holocaust Issues.
Delegates from the IHRA's 35
member countries, along with representatives from observer
countries and international partners came together for 4 days of
discussions on Holocaust remembrance, education, and research.
This followed a conference held on the 23 June 2024, which
brought together teachers and educators from across Scotland to
share best practice on Holocaust education.
The plenary was underpinned by the UK presidency's theme ‘In
Plain Sight', inspired by a conversation between and Holocaust survivor Ivor
Perl, emphasising that the Holocaust did not happen behind closed
doors.
The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, the
ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza, and the surge in
antisemitism that has emerged in their wake continued to inform
discussions. Attendees shared their experiences of working to
combat antisemitism and the tools and strategies they found most
effective in doing so. A theme throughout the session was the
importance of open dialogue – whether between communities, with
young people, or with institutions and educators – in educating
about and tackling antisemitism. Delegates agreed to update the
IHRA's
teaching materials to more fully recognise and address the
challenges of contemporary antisemitism in the current global
context.
The impact of new and emerging technologies, such as artificial
intelligence (AI), on Holocaust denial and distortion is a focal
point of the UK's IHRApresidency,
and featured prominently in discussions. While close attention
was paid to the potential dangers of AI in the facilitation of
Holocaust distortion, delegates also explored the unique
opportunities that AI can provide for Holocaust education and
identifying and tackling distortion. noted that “While AI can be a
powerful tool for research and outreach, it's crucial to address
the potential for AI to be misused to perpetuate antisemitic
narratives and disinformation”. Delegates committed to stepping
up action and building expertise in this space, ahead of a
conference on AI and distortion in the autumn.
The plenary provided an opportunity to showcase some of the UK's
pioneering work in the field of Holocaust remembrance and
education. As part of the UK presidency's ‘My Hometown' project,
which encourages students in IHRA member
states to undertake research into the impact of the Holocaust in
their local area, delegates heard from Nottingham-based teacher
Dominic Townsend, who works with d/Deaf children. Dominic
showcased his work with students and the local d/Deaf community
to create the first dedicated sign language lexicon for use in
Holocaust education. His students were able to utilise this in
their own research project, which brought them into contact with
a Holocaust survivor living in their area.
At Scotland's national football stadium, Hampden Park, launched a guide to
implementation of the IHRA
working definition of antisemitism for sporting institutions,
alongside the Independent Adviser to the Government on
Antisemitism, . Delegates also visited
Garnethill Synagogue and the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre,
where they had the opportunity to engage directly with
representatives of Glasgow's Jewish community and learn more
about the local history.
Delegates also had the opportunity to hear from the First
Minister of Scotland, MSP, at Kelvingrove Art
Gallery and Museum, who quoted author and Holocaust survivor
Primo Levi: “the Holocaust is a page from the book of humanity
from which we should never remove the bookmark of memory.” echoed the First Minister in
his closing remarks, when he said, “the truth, my friends, is
this: the IHRA is the
bookmark”. Guests also heard from Geraldine Shenkin, daughter of
Holocaust survivor and artist Marianne Grant whose artwork is on
permanent display at the museum.
The next plenary, to be held in London this December 2024, will
build on the outcomes from the Glasgow meeting, addressing the
unique challenges of the current geopolitical and technological
contexts.
