Terezín Declaration Conference in 2022

02/11/2022 | Na stronie od 15/07/2021

Kamieniece, mienie pożydowskie

Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Terezín Declaration

List of States:

  1. Albania; 2. Argentina; 3. Australia; 4. Austria; 5. Belarus; 6. Belgium; ;7. Bosnia and Herzegovina; 8. Brazil; 9. Bulgaria; 10. Canada; 11. Croatia; 12. Cyprus; 13. Czech Republic; 14. Denmark; 15. Estonia; 16. Finland; 17. France; 18. North Macedonia; 19. Germany; 20. Greece; 21. Hungary; 22. Ireland; 23. Israel; 24. Italy; 25. Latvia; 26. Lithuania; 27. Luxembourg; 28. Malta; 29. Moldova; 30. Montenegro; 31. The Netherlands; 32. Norway; 33. Poland; 34. Portugal; 35. Romania; 36. Russia; 37. Slovakia; 38. Slovenia; 39. Spain; 40. Sweden; 41. Switzerland; 42. Turkey; 43. Ukraine; 44. United Kingdom; 45. United States; 46. Uruguay; The Holy See (observer); 47. Serbia (observer) (later endorsed)

Full Text of Terezín Declaration (PDF, 83 KB)

Deklaracja Terezińska
Terezín Declaration

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, presents its compliments to the signatories of The Terezín Declaration and has the honor to inform about preparations of Follow-Up International Conference to be held in Prague in 2022.

The International Conference will be organized in Prague on 22 September 2022, as one of the main events during the Czech Presidency of the European Union.

The Conference is planned with physical presence of participants, however, based on actual epidemiological situation might be organized as a hybrid event.

The event will be organized by the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust.

Preliminary Program Proposal of the Conference

Thursday September 22, 2022
9:00am - 12:00pm - Main Session Openings, keynote speeches by ministers, special envoys and other personalities
12:00pm - 1:00pm - Lunch Break
1:00pm - 4:00pm - Parallel Panel Sessions

Parallel Panels:

  1. Education, New Projects and Future Remembrance
  2. Immovable Property and Looted Art
  3. The Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act
  4. NGO Panel
  5. Social Impacts of the Holocaust
  6. National Strategies to Combat Antisemitism and Online Hate Speech
  7. Working Group for Conference Outputs

4:30pm - Presentation of Youth Video Contest

Presentation of the International Video Contest: The Message of the Holocaust Today
5:00pm - Opening of the Memorial of Silence

Opening of the Memorial of Silence in Prague Bubny Railway Station
6:30pm - Gala Dinner

Gala Dinner for Delegates
Friday September 23, 2022
9:30am - 12:00pm - Visit of Terezín

For more information: da@mzv.cz

Program of the Terezín Declaration Conference. Nov 2-4, 2022

during the Czech Presidency
of the Council of the EU
Nov 2-4, 2022

Program as of Nov 2-4, 2022

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, presents its compliments to the 47 countries who endorsed The Terezín Declaration in 2009 and has the honor to inform about preparations of the follow-up international conference to be held in Prague and Terezín on November 2-4, 2022.

The main program of the International Terezín Declaration Conference will be organized in the Czernin Palace in Prague on Thursday November 3, 2022 as one of the main events during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The aim of the conference is to take another significant step in future Holocaust remembrance, education of the young generation, reflecting and tackling injustices from the time of the Holocaust and combating Antisemitism (especially online) as a means of preventing similar atrocities in our time and in the future. During the conference, the countries will be invited to make their pledges based on the Terezín Declaration for the coming next 3 years and come up with new ideas of additional steps that can be taken as an implementation of the Terezín Declaration. As part of the conference program, the effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine will also be reflected, including the social aspect of Holocaust survivors.

The Conference will be with the physical presence of the speakers and panel participants. The event is organized by the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, Interfaith Dialogue and FoRB.

Preliminary Program

The International Terezín Declaration Conference was opened in the Czernin Palace by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský. The three-day conference took place on November 2 - 4, 2022 and aimed to support the fight against antisemitism, highlighted the role of education and called for the solving of injustices from the time of the Holocaust. It also dealt with the situation of survivors of the war in Ukraine. The event took place with the participation of representatives from 47 signatory states as part of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský called in his speech on the representatives of the signatory states of the Terezín Declaration to take the necessary steps to fulfill its obligations: "You are aware of the fact that throughout this year we´ve had to deal with critical issues like energy supplies and prices and security among others. However, we are convinced that even in these times we should firmly advocate human rights and pay close attention to other threats that endanger our way of life, including racism and antisemitism." In this context, the head of Czech diplomacy also drew attention to the effects of the war in Ukraine or the threat in the form of disinformation campaigns: "We are now facing armed conflict in Europe, which we thought that would have never happened again, and outbursts of racism and national and religious intolerance. If we do not want history to repeat itself we have to keep Holocaust memory alive and not let any room for disinformation or distortion” said Minister Lipavský.

The participants and guests could watch a video message from the US State Secretary Antony Blinken and they were also greeted by the President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman and by the President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog. The conference was organized by the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion or Belief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

In addition to the main program of the conference the Experts Meeting was organized by the Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Jewish Literature, Department of Czech and Comparative Literature, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague. Participants and guests also had the opportunity to personally meet Holocaust survivors, listen to a concert by Terezín composers called Defiant Requiem, and visit the Ghetto Terezín. On the occasion of the conference a Youth Video Contest on the topic: “Why and How to Commemorate the Holocaust Today” was announced and selected young contestants from several countries of the world were invited to participate at the conference.

Wednesday Nov 2, 2022 – Experts Meeting & SECCA Meeting

1:00pm-4:00pm (Trauttmansdorff Palace)

Experts Meeting organized by the Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Jewish Literature, Department of Czech and Comparative Literature, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague and SECCA Meeting (Special Envoys & Coordinators Combating Antisemitism) – as an initiative of the World Jewish Congress
(Detailed programs see below)

Welcome Reception at the US Ambassador's Residence in Prague for the Heads of Delegations, Panelists and Speakers (TBC)
5:00pm – 7:00pm (US Ambassador's Residence)

Thursday Nov 3, 2022 - International Conference

Registration
8:30am – 9:00am (Ceremonial Entrance) Exhibition of Illustrations from the Ghetto Terezín

Main Session in the Czernin Palace
1. Opening Speeches
9:00am – 10:00am (Main Hall)

  • Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (confirmed)
  • Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State (TBC)
  • Meirav Cohen, Minister of Social Equality of the State of Israel (TBC)
  • Gideon Taylor, Chair of Operations of WJRO (confirmed)
  • Holocaust Survivor introduced by Sharon Buenos, Global Director, Project Zikaron BaSalon זיכרון בסלון (TBC)

Moderator: Robert Řehák, Special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and FoRB, Czech Republic (confirmed)

2. From Terezín Declaration Conference in 2009 to Terezín Declaration Conference in 2022
10:00am – 10:30am (Main Hall)

The panel will pursue progress of the member countries in accomplishing laid down objectives of the Terezín Declaration since its announcing in 2009. Important milestone for this purpose was the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act adopted in the US, which provides an overview of successes of each country in reaching declared aims.

  • Stuart E. Eizenstat, Chairman of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Council and Special Advisor on Holocaust Issues to the US Secretary of State (confirmed). Stuart Eizenstat's Remarks (DOCX, 29 KB)
  • Ellen Germain, Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, U.S. Department of State (confirmed)

Coffee Break
10:30am – 10:45am (Entrance to the Main Hall)

3. Parallel Sessions: Education & National Statements

3.1. Education, Countering Disinformation and Future Remembrance
10:45am – 12:15pm (Main Hall)

The panel will discuss new and innovative approaches in education, research and programs related to the future Holocaust remembrance and promoting tolerance in the society. Education is one of the strongest tools that can be used to strengthen young people’s resilience against disinformation and to fight intolerance, discrimination, hate and anti-Semitism. To engage with Jewish communities and their members as well as with other minorities could be the perfect opportunity to foster and flourish mutual understanding.

International Terezín Declaration Conf. - Education, Countering Disinformation, Future Remembrance - YouTube

  • Claudia Roth, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (TBC)
  • Yehuda Bauer, Israeli Historian and Scholar of the Holocaust (online)
  • Annette Schavan, Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility and Future, Former Minister of Education of Germany (confirmed)
  • Jan Roubínek, Director of Terezín Memorial (confirmed)
  • Yossi Gevir, Director of External & Governmental Affairs at Yad Vashem

Chair: Ann Bernes, President of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

Special Presidential Message to the Terezín Declaration Conference Participants

International Terezín Declaration Conference, Prague - Video Message by President Isaac Herzog - YouTube

3.2. National Statements, Contributions and Voluntary Pledges
10:45am – 12:15pm (Music Hall)

Chair: Dan Haezrachy, Special Envoy for Holocaust Era Restitution, Israel
International Terezín Declaration Conference, Prague - National Statement of the State of Israel - YouTube

In parallel session the Terezín Declaration signatory states are invited to present and record their national pledges for the coming next 3 years.

  • Bisera Turković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (TBC)
  • Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia (TBC)

Chair: Dan Haezrachy, Special Envoy for Holocaust Era Restitution, Israel (confirmed)

Lunch
12:15pm - 1:15pm (Gallery)

4. National Strategies to Combat Antisemitism and Online Hate Speech
1:15pm – 2:30pm (Main Hall)

The panel will deal with the progress since the European Commission adopted the first-ever EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. Some member states have already finished their strategies and other member states are currently designing their strategies and national policies, which should be assessed by the Commission by the end of 2023. The panel will also deal with the problem, how to improve the algorithms on social media platforms, which should not promote the division of society, hatred, discrimination, and antisemitism, but on the contrary positively motivate especially young people to fight against these phenomena and encourage tolerance and mutual understanding.

International Terezín Declaration Conference - National Strategies to Combat Antisemitism - YouTube

  • Rabbi Andrew Baker, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism & American Jewish Committee (TBC)
  • František Vrabel, Founder of Semantic Visions, a Prague-based analytics firm that collects and analyzes 90% of the world’s online news content (confirmed)
  • Stéphane Dion, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the European Union and Europe, and Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco
  • Irina Rosensaft, Digital Transformation Lead at the Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany; Jewish Diplomatic Corps, World Jewish Congress

Chair: Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combatting Antisemitism (confirmed)

5. Tackling Injustices from the Time of the Holocaust - Immovable Property and Looted Art

International Terezín Declaration Conference - Tackling Injustices from the Time of the Holocaust - YouTube

  • Hannah Lessing, Austrian National Fund
  • David Zivie, Head of Mission for Research and Restitution of Looted Cultural Property 1933-1945, French Ministry of Culture
  • Anne Webber, Co-Chair of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe
  • Wesley Fisher, Director of Research, Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany
  • Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff, former Austrian Ambassador in Prague

Chair: Rt Hon Lord Eric Pickles, United Kingdom Special Envoy for post-Holocaust Issues

Coffee Break
3:30pm – 3:45pm (Entrance to the Main Hall)

6. Social welfare of the Holocaust Survivors and Helping to the Holocaust Survivors in Ukraine
3:45pm – 4:15pm (Main Hall)

International Terezín Declaration Conference, Prague - Social welfare of the Holocaust Survivors - YouTube

  • Greg Schneider, Executive VP of the Claims Conference
  • Maya Cimeša Samokovlija, Executive Director of Community Relations, World Jewish Congress

Chair: Mark Weitzman, COO WJRO, Former Chair of IHRA Antisemitism Committee

7. Presentation of the Conference Outputs and of the International Youth Video Contest
4:15pm – 4:30pm (Main Hall)

Presentation of the winning videos of the International Video Contest: "Why and How to Commemorate the Holocaust Today?"

Holocaust (PDF, 573 KB)

End of Session
4:30pm

Defiant Requiem Concert: Hours of Freedom: The Story of the Terezín Composer (confirmed)
6:00pm – 7:15pm (Main Hall)

Opening speech:

  • Stuart E. Eizenstat, Chairman of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Council and Special Advisor on Holocaust Issues to the US Secretary of State
  • Anna Azari, Ambassador of Israel to the Czech Republic
  • Tomáš Pojar, Advisor for Foreign and Security Policy to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Hours of Freedom is a stirring multimedia concert-drama featuring music by composers imprisoned in the Theresienstadt (Terezín) Concentration Camp during WWII. Presented as nine chapters with titles including, “Hope”, “Fate”, “Longing” and “The Eyewitness” this concert combines music, video, and narrative to highlight works by Viktor Ullmann, Gideon Klein, Pavel Haas, Rudolf Karel, and others. The compositions performed portray the agony and suffering of camp life, along with the inspiration, revelation, harmony, and hope that comes through music.

Created & written by Murry Sidlin.
Presented by The Defiant Requiem Foundation.

Dinner
7:30pm (Gallery)
Dinner for Delegates in the Czernin Palace

Friday Nov 4, 2022 – Tour to Terezín

Guided Visit of the Ghetto Terezín
9:00am - 12:00pm (Terezín)
Bus transport to Terezín will be provided for the registered delegates, departing from the Czernin Palace. The return to Prague will be around 1pm.

Detailed Preliminary Program of the Experts Meeting
Wednesday Nov 2, 2022

1:00pm-4:00pm (Trauttmansdorff Palace)

(Trauttmansdorff Palace)

Experts Meeting is held under the honorary auspices of the Charles University Rector Prof. MUDr. Milena Králíčková, Ph.D and organized by the Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Jewish Literature, Department of Czech and Comparative Literature, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague.

Opening Speech

  • Prof. MUDr. Milena Králíčková, Ph.D, Rector of the Charles University in Prague
  • PhDr. Milan Žonca, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for International Relations
  • Libuše Heczková, Director of the Department of Czech and Comparative Literature, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

Key Speakers

  • Julius H. Schoeps, Founding Director of The Moses Mendelssohn Center for European Jewish studies, University of Potsdam: The Deportation of my Grandparents Käthe and Julius Schoeps from Berlin to Theresienstadt
  • Mag. Natascha Drubek-Meyer, Ph.D, The School of Slavonic and East, European Studies (SSEES), University College London: Five Reasons Why the Film Made in The Ghetto Theresienstadt Matters Today

Chair: ThDr. Petr J. Vinš, Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Jewish Literature, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

Parallel Sessions:

Session A: Terezín after Three-quarters of a Century

  • Jiří Sozanský, PhDr. Jan Roubínek, B.A. (Terezín Memorial): Jiří Sozanský’s Terezín Ghetto as Inspiration
  • Prof. Jiří Holý, Department of Czech and Comparative Literature, Faculty of Arts, Charles University: Czech and German-Language Literature in Terezín

Chair: Mag. Petr Brod, M.A.

Presentations by Students of the Faculty of Arts

  • Šárka Sladovníková: Ghetto Theresienstadt in Czechoslovak and Czech Feature Film
  • Hana Nichtburgerová, M.A.: Richard Glazar in Terezín and in Treblinka
  • Tereza Málková: Girl᾿s Magazine Bonaco in Terezín

Session B: Reflecting upon the Holocaust

  • Prof. Joanna Dyduch, PhD., Institute of the Middle and Far East, Jagiellonian University, Kraków: Holocaust memory in contemporary Poland: Developments, disputes, and controversies
  • Avraham Weber, University of Marburg, Current changes in Holocaust research and its effects on international litigation
  • Dr. Olaf Glöckner, Moses Mendelssohn Center for European Jewish Studies, University of Potsdam: Between silent commemoration and "yolocaust": Debates on handling the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin
  • PhDr. et Mgr. Marcela Menachem Zoufalá, Ph.D., Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Jewish Literature, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague:
  • Joint-Reading of the names of Jewish and Romani Holocaust victims on Yom HaShoah: Contemporary polemic in the Czech Republic
  • PhDr. Zbyněk Tarant, Ph.D, Department of Middle East Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of West Bohemia, Plzeň: Holocaust appropriation during Covid-19 - A new challenge to the Holocaust memory?
  • Mgr. Jiří Smlsal, Institute of Economic and Social History, Faculty of Arts, Charles University: Confiscations of Romani property during the Holocaust

Chair: Mgr. Jan Fingerland, Czech Radio

Discussant: Matthias Weller, The Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn

SECCA – Special Envoys & Coordinators Combating Antisemitism Meeting (TBC)

Contact Details:

Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion

  • Ms. Petra Kaplanová, Coordinator and Administrative Support
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trauttmansdorff Palace
  • Loretánská Str. 6, 118 00 Praha 1
  • E-mail: da@mzv.cz
  • Tel.: +420 224 183 252
  • More info: https://www.mzv.cz/terezindeclaration

Robert Řehák, Ph.D., Special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
  • Trauttmansdorff Palace
  • Loretánská Str. 6, 118 00 Praha 1
  • 118 00 Praha 1
  • E-mail: robert_rehak@mzv.cz
  • Tel.: +420 224 183 253

Holocaust Era Assets Conference in Prague, June 26-30, 2009

Conference Proceedings

Publication Holocaust Era Assets
(PDF, 7 MB)

More info

Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act Report