Fighting anti-Semitism: Monaco takes part in the plenary meeting of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Ravano, Monaco's Ambassador to Germany, and the Principality's Representative at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), travelled to Glasgow from 24 to 27 June to attend the IHRA's plenary meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Lord Eric Pickles, the United Kingdom Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues, was an opportunity, eight months after the attacks of 7 October 2023, to review the situation in the Middle East and the resurgence of anti-Semitic acts around the world.

An additional objective was to enhance the procedures and effectiveness of IHRA through the adoption a few months earlier of a Charter for Safeguarding Sites, or more recently with the launch of the Archival Access Forum, thanks to which Member Countries can now share best practices.

Discussions also focused on generative artificial intelligence, both a formidable research and awareness-raising tool that can nevertheless be used maliciously to threatens the memory of the Holocaust by spreading anti-Semitic narratives and misinformation.

With regard to the actions carried out by the Principality in line with a duty of remembrance, the Ambassador recalled in his speech the creation in 2006 of CAVS, the Commission for Assistance to Victims of Despoliation; the publication in 2015 by an expert panel of a report aimed at establishing the list of Jewish individuals from Monaco arrested and deported during the Second World War, as well as the opening of the Second World War archives for research purposes.

The Ambassador indicated that H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince had received the Medal of Honour of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) in Paris on 5 April 2024 in recognition of his ongoing commitment in this field.

H.E. Mr. Lorenzo RAVANO recalled the importance of school education as a vehicle for raising awareness, and the funding provided by the Prince's Government for the "Auschwitz: in front of your eyes" programme, thanks to which thousands of European students can visit the memorial site virtually.

He concluded by confirming the participation of a Monegasque delegation to the Commemorations of the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in January 2025.

IHRA is an intergovernmental organisation of 35 member countries and nine observer countries, including the Principality (observer since 2015), to ensure government support for Holocaust education, remembrance and research around the world.

(For more information: https://holocaustremembrance.com/ )

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