FRESH AIR

Australia represented as states recommit to Holocaust remembrance

January 20, 2020 | Naomi Levin

Jewish people arriving at Auschwitz. 
Photo: Yad Vashem
Jewish people arriving at Auschwitz. Photo: Yad Vashem

The Australian Government recommitted to remembering the Holocaust and acknowledging contemporary antisemitism at a meeting in Europe this week.

For the first time since becoming a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2019, Australia participated as a full member at the IHRA Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels. Australia was represented by Justin Brown, Australia’s Ambassador to the European Union, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Ambassador Brown – together with representatives of 34 other countries – endorsed the 2020 IHRA Ministerial Declaration.

Delegates at the IHRA Ministerial Meeting 2020 in Brussels.

This declaration looked both to the past and at current challenges.

75 years after the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in Germany and eastern Europe, it pledged “to the victims and survivors that they shall never be forgotten and that their legacy will be kept alive”.

Representatives also promised to promote Holocaust education, safeguard the historical record of the Holocaust and continue efforts to hold significant Holocaust commemorations.

The ongoing battle against global antisemitism – coming from the far left and the far right – was also acknowledged at the conference.

The IHRA delegates expressed “our deepest concerns about rising antisemitism” and accepted responsibility “as governments to continue working together to counter Holocaust denial and distortion, antisemitism, and all forms of racism and discrimination that undermine fundamental democratic principles”. They added “We will work closely with experts, civil society and our international partners to further these goals.”

In the past year, people have been murdered in antisemitic incidents in the United States and Germany. Globally, online antisemitism, particularly spread by the far-right via social media, continues unabated. And in the political sphere, British and American Jews have been subject to attacks by extreme left political leaders trying to disguise their antisemitism behind a flimsy veil of Israel criticism.

The declaration also reaffirmed IHRA’s founding document, the 20-year-old Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum. AIJAC’s Director of International and Community Affairs Jeremy Jones was a participant in that forum.

Lord Eric Pickles, the British Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues reminded participants of their important duty: “At a time when the last survivor won’t be with us, maybe in a decade or so, it passes to us to make sure that the truth is heard,” he said.

RELATED ARTICLES

(Image: Shutterstock)

With all the discussion of disarming Hamas, how are the plans to disarm Hezbollah going?

Oct 24, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Image: Shutterstock

China could be the key to the success of the renewed “snapback sanctions” on Iran

Oct 3, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Image: UN Photo)

Abbas said some positive sounding things in UN speech – pity they are so far-fetched

Sep 30, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Image: Shutterstock

Media Matters: The ABC’s blind spot

Aug 17, 2025 | Fresh AIR
Fighters and military vehicles belonging to Syrian government forces intervene in the city of Sweida to enforce a ceasefire between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes. Syria, July 20, 2025 (Image: Shutterstock)

Druze crisis tested Israel’s Syria strategy

Jul 31, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
Image: Shutterstock

Media Matters: Smoke and Ire over IHRA

Jul 30, 2025 | Featured, Fresh AIR
D11a774c 2a47 C987 F4ce 2d642e6d9c8d

Bibi in DC, the Houthi threat and the politicised ICJ opinion

Jul 26, 2024 | Update
Image: Shutterstock

Nine months after Oct. 7: Where Israel stands now

Jul 10, 2024 | Update
Palestinian Red Crescent workers from Al-Najjar Hospital in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip (Image: Shutterstock)

Hamas’ impossible casualty figures

Mar 28, 2024 | Update
455daec3 C2a8 8752 C215 B7bd062c6bbc

After the Israel-Hamas ceasefire for hostages deal

Nov 29, 2023 | Update
Screenshot of Hamas bodycam footage as terrorists approach an Israeli vehicle during the terror organisation's October 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, released by the IDF and GPO (Screenshot)

Horror on Video / International Law and the Hamas War

Oct 31, 2023 | Update
Sderot, Israel. 7th Oct, 2023. Bodies of dead Israelis lie on the ground following the attacks of Hamas (Image: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/Alamy Live News)

Israel’s Sept. 11, only worse

Oct 11, 2023 | Update
Screenshot 2025 10 16 At 12.41.57 pm

“Time for regional cooperation”: Joel Burnie on Sky News

Oct 16, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot

Hamas responsible for huge suffering on both sides of Gaza war: Colin Rubenstein on Sky News

Oct 13, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot

Protests were always about the delegitimisation and demonisation of Israel: Joel Burnie on Sky News

Oct 12, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 10 12 At 6.12.29 pm

Peace depends upon disarmament of Hamas: Bren Carlill on Sky News

Oct 12, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 10 11 At 10.12.08 am

Elation for hostage families but need to maintain isolation of Hamas: Joel Burnie on Sky News

Oct 11, 2025 | Featured, Video
Screenshot 2025 10 11 At 10.14.58 am

Israel paying a heavy price to secure release of hostages: Arsen Ostrovsky on Sky News

Oct 11, 2025 | Video

RECENT POSTS

(Image: Shutterstock)

With all the discussion of disarming Hamas, how are the plans to disarm Hezbollah going?

Guy Gilboa-Dalal, a former Israeli hostage, waving to supporters after his release (Image: Screenshot/ X)

From the Shadows of Death to the Light of Life

CT masthead

“Too much disinformation to rebut in one letter”

Screenshot 2025 10 16 At 12.41.57 pm

“Time for regional cooperation”: Joel Burnie on Sky News

(Image: Combined from IDF)

AIJAC thrilled at hostage release

SORT BY TOPICS