“We all share a responsibility to ensure the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten,” said British Ambassador Simon Walters.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration, diplomats and Holocaust remembrance leaders gathered yesterday (Tuesday) at the British ambassador’s residence in Ramat Gan.
The event was co-hosted by the embassies of the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the United States—the first three nations to sign the declaration in 2000.
Guests heard the moving testimony of 99-year-old Michael Samuels, the last known living survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. During the war, Samuels risked his life to smuggle messages and equipment into the ghetto. After being captured and deported to Treblinka by the Nazis, he again risked everything to bring food to fellow prisoners. He survived against all odds—enduring life in the ghettos, concentration camps, and forced labor. His bravery and resilience stand as a powerful symbol of the human spirit.
“Never Again” Is More Than a Slogan
Among those present were British Ambassador Simon Walters, Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Rydmark, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Hallett, IHRA Chair, and Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. Also in attendance were ambassadors from IHRA member countries—including Germany, Poland, Italy, Romania, Canada, Australia, and others—as well as representatives from leading Holocaust remembrance organizations.
“The Stockholm Declaration remains a vital and enduring reminder that Holocaust remembrance and education are a shared responsibility,” said Ambassador Walters.
“Our mission has always been to ensure that ‘Never Again’ is not just a slogan but a living and essential commitment. We all have a duty to fight antisemitism wherever it appears,” he added.
Walters also noted that the UK government continues to uphold the Stockholm Declaration through its commitment to Holocaust education and by constructing a permanent Holocaust memorial near the British Parliament: “The memorial serves as a constant reminder of the Holocaust’s horrors.”
Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Rydmark spoke about the rising tide of antisemitism around the world:
“The Stockholm Declaration was adopted in response to serious challenges—like ignorance and Holocaust denial. Today, 25 years later, and especially following the events of October 7, we face even more severe challenges. Social media continues to fuel Holocaust distortion, denial, and widespread antisemitism and hate.”
25 Years of the Stockholm Declaration
The Stockholm Declaration is considered a cornerstone document in the effort to promote Holocaust education, remembrance, and research. It laid the foundation for the creation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
In 1998, Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and U.S. President Bill Clinton agreed to establish a task force to strengthen international cooperation on Holocaust education and remembrance. That effort led to the 2000 Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust and the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration, which continues to guide the work of IHRA and its member states to this day.
