At a time when there are fewer and fewer eyewitnesses to the Holocaust, it is becoming increasingly important to counter Holocaust distortion, including so-called Auschwitz denial. The publication ‘Recognizing and Countering Holocaust Distortion: Recommendations for Policy and Decision Makers’, issued in January 2021 by IHRA in cooperation with UNESCO, represents an important first step toward addressing this serious problem.

Why should we counter Holocaust distortion

Holocaust distortion is a critical threat to Holocaust remembrance and to building a world free from genocide.

References to the Holocaust that misrepresent and distort its history and meaning are an affront to the memory and experiences of victims and survivors. Holocaust distortion undermines our understanding of this history and fuels conspiracy theories, dangerous forms of nationalism, Holocaust denial, and antisemitism.

IHRA member countries, by committing to the principles of the Stockholm Declaration, have taken a leading role in developing and supporting research, education, and remembrance related to the Holocaust. As a result of these efforts, IHRA has become increasingly concerned about the ways in which the misuse of the Holocaust and its legacy undermines history and threatens social, political, and cultural coexistence.

Key recommendations:

• Monitoring Holocaust distortion;
• Trainings on countering Holocaust distortion;
• Strengthening institutions dedicated to Holocaust remembrance;
• Identifying and responding to Holocaust distortion online, particularly on social media.

The recommendations can be downloaded from the IHRA website.