Deputy Ambassador James Ford warns of rising antisemitism across
the OSCE region, which undermines our collective security. The UK
remains committed to preserving historical truth, strengthening
education, and ensuring future generations understand why such
atrocities must never be repeated.
"Thank you, Mr Chair. And I would also like to thank Daniel Dayan
for his introductory comments and for Israel's work as President
of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
Earlier this week, across the world, we marked Holocaust Memorial
Day. We remembered the six million Jewish men, women, and
children murdered in the Holocaust, and the Roma and Sinti,
disabled people, gay men, political opponents, and Jehovah's
Witnesses who were also persecuted and killed. Each was targeted
for who they were, or for what they believed. Each life was taken
by a system of hatred built in plain sight.
Remembrance is not only an act of reflection; it is a safeguard.
The Holocaust did not begin with extermination camps. It began
with words—words that normalised prejudice, eroded rights, and
created conditions in which discrimination could become
persecution, and persecution could become genocide. Those lessons
are not abstract. They speak directly to us today.
In the OSCE region and beyond, we are seeing the resurgence of
antisemitism. Jewish communities fear for their safety. Hate
crime has risen across many of our participating States. The
awful terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester last year was
a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of hatred. And
recent events in Australia demonstrate that this evil knows no
borders.
We cannot ignore the scale of this trend, nor the speed with
which it spreads—online, on our streets, and through narratives
that distort or deny the facts of the Holocaust. This distortion
is itself a form of antisemitism. It corrodes trust, undermines
truth, and harms the security of our societies.
The United Kingdom is committed to standing against this. We
continue to champion the Global Guidelines for Countering
Antisemitism and the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, and
we urge others to adopt and use them both. During our recent IHRA
Presidency, we worked with partners to protect the historical
record, strengthen education, and address new challenges,
including those posed by artificial intelligence and digital
manipulation. That work remains urgent.
This year's Holocaust Memorial Day theme—Bridging
Generations—feels especially poignant. Survivors have
informed our understanding of the events that led to the
Holocaust and helped shape our obligations. But we are
approaching a time when their voices will no longer be with us.
This places a responsibility on all of us. We must ensure that
future generations learn not only what happened, but how it
happened, and why it must never be allowed to happen again.
Today, we remember and honour the victims. We pay tribute to the
survivors. And we recommit to confronting antisemitism,
protecting the truth, and defending the rights and freedoms that
safeguard our shared humanity.
Thank you."
