Ministry Statements & Speeches:
On Friday 24 June, Aotearoa New Zealand’s application to become an Observer of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) was accepted by the Alliance’s membership.
The IHRA is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes “international political coordination to combat growing Holocaust denial and antisemitism”. The objectives of the IHRA strongly align with Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to combatting antisemitism.
Through becoming an Observer we will be joining 44 other member or Observer countries to strengthen, advance and promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance.
Aotearoa New Zealand strongly believes that the international community must stand firm against every form of intolerance wherever it may be found. It is only through an understanding of the lessons of history that we can ensure atrocities such as the Holocaust never happen again.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day has been observed in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2008. Over the years it has been attended by Holocaust Survivors, the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, and Ministers and Members of the New Zealand Parliament. Together with the Holocaust memorial sites and a Holocaust museum in Aotearoa New Zealand, this speaks to the importance we place on paying tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
Aotearoa New Zealand is committed to safeguarding human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and belief and to realising the rights of minority populations worldwide. In becoming an Observer of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, we reiterate our commitment to promoting education, remembrance and research on the Holocaust to counter the influence of denial and distortion, hate speech and incitement to violence and hatred.
We thank the IHRA for accepting Aotearoa New Zealand as an Observer and look forward to working with the Alliance.