Teaching and Remembering about H olocaust

1. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority Teaching and Remembering about Holocaust Bratislava, January 20-22,2006 Mária Slugeňová International Cooperation Division Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic

2. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF) • International Project on Holocaust Education in Slovakia (2000 – 2006) • Activities on Holocaust Education in Slovakia after ITF membership

3. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • On May 7, 1998, the Swedish Prime Minister Gőran Persson, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the President of the United States Bill Clinton decided to set up the "Task Force for International Co-operation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research"(ITF) to promote international cooperation on holocaust education, remembrance and research on the eve of the new millennium.

4. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority Its purpose is to place political and social leaders’ support behind the need for Holocaust education, remembrance, and research both nationally and internationally. ITF consists of • representatives of governments • governmental and non-governmental organizations

5. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • Membership in the ITF is open to all countries. • Members must accept the principles adopted by the Task Force regarding membership. • They also must be committed to the implementation of national policies and programs in support of Holocaust education, remembrance, and research. • The Task Force also encourages appropriate forms of Holocaust remembrance. • Members must be committed to the Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust.

6. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • Prime Minister Göran Persson invited government representatives, experts, researchers and survivors to take part in the intergovernmental conference in Stockholm, 26–28 January 2000 – The Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust. It was for the first time that heads of state and other government representatives from different parts of the world have gathered to discuss the lessons to be learned from the history of the Holocaust. • The purpose of the conference was to pass on testimony of the Holocaust and give support to education and research on this dark chapter in 20th century history. This should mean that we will be better equipped to combat racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance as they manifest themselves in modern-day society. We must never take democracy for granted. • www.holocaustforum.gov.se

7. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority DECLARATION OF THE STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON THE HOLOCAUST The members of the Task Force are committed to the Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust, which reads as follows: 1.The Holocaust (Shoah) fundamentally challenged the foundations of civilization. The unprecedented character of the Holocaust will always hold universal meaning. After half a century, it remains an event close enough in time that survivors can still bear witness to the horrors that engulfed the Jewish people. The terrible suffering of the many millions of other victims of the Nazis has left an indelible scar across Europe as well. 2. The magnitude of the Holocaust, planned and carried out by the Nazis, must be forever seared in our collective memory. The selfless sacrifices of those who defied the Nazis, and sometimes gave their own lives to protect or rescue the Holocaust’s victims, must also be inscribed in our hearts. The depths of that horror, and the heights of their heroism, can be touchstones in our understanding of the human capacity for evil and for good. 3. With humanity still scarred by genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, anti-semitism and xenophobia, the international community shares a solemn responsibility to fight those evils. Together we must uphold the terrible truth of the Holocaust against those who deny it. We must strengthen the moral commitment of our peoples, and the political commitment of our governments, to ensure that future generations can understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences.

8. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority 4.We pledge to strengthen our efforts to promote education, remembrance and research about the Holocaust, both in those of our countries that have already done much and those that choose to join this effort. 5.We share a commitment to encourage the study of the Holocaust in all its dimensions. We will promote education about the Holocaust in our schools and universities, in our communities and encourage it in other institutions. 6.We share a commitment to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to honour those who stood against it. We will encourage appropriate forms of Holocaust remembrance, including an annual Day of Holocaust Remembrance, in our countries. 7.We share a commitment to throw light on the still obscured shadows of the Holocaust. We will take all necessary steps to facilitate the opening of archives in order to ensure that all documents bearing on the Holocaust are available to researchers. 8.It is appropriate that this, the first major international conference of the new millenium, declares its commitment to plant the seeds of a better future amidst the soil of a bitter past. We empathize with the victims’ suffering and draw inspiration from their struggle. Our commitment must be to remember the victims who perished, respect the survivors still with us, and reaffirm humanity’s common aspiration for mutual understanding and justice.

9. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority 1998 - United Kingdom, Sweden, USA 1998 – Israel, Germany, Netherland, Poland 1999 – France, Italy 2001 – Austria 2002 – Argentina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania 2003 – Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Luxembourg 2004 – Switzerland, Romania 2005 – Belgium, Slovakia, Croatia, Greece

10. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • Education Working Group • Academic Working Group • Information Working Group • Memorials Working Group

11. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority 2005 Poland / 2006 Hungary 2004 Italy 2003 USA 2002 France • ITF Plenary meetings • Task Force Chair www.holocausttaskforce.org

12. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • In 2000 MoE of the SR submitted to ITF the project proposal „Training of the Slovak secondary schools teachers in the field of Holocaust education“ (during the minister of education visit into the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington) • The project was approved by ITF and Egon Gál, Director of Institute of Jewish Studies in Commenius University in Bratislava, was designed as a project coordinator in co-operation with International Cooperation Division (MoE) • Slovakia became so called „liaison country“ and Germany was assigned as „leading country“ for SR

13. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority Main Objective • To educate the selected Slovak history and social science teachers – “multiplicators” with language abilities (German, English) whose lessons comprise the Holocaust issues • Multiplicators , once the Project has come to an end, would then themselves teach their students - other teachers of similar subjects from the region

14. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • An increased quality of teaching, compared to the world standards, could be achieved, as well as higher quality and more efficient learning texts, teaching aids and media carriers could be created • The participant had to absorb the results from the practical experience gained in this subject in ITF countries, which became the source of the best teaching practices and the contents mediating forms of teaching

15. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority Main Activities 2000-2005 2000 • Introductory meeting with German colleagues in Bratislava 2001 • 2 seminars in the USA – Stockton College (New Jersey), Holocaust Human Rights Centre (Main) - 4 teachers • Memorial Dachau (Germany) – 20 teachers 2002 • House of Wansee Conference – Berlin (Germany) – 20 teachers • 2 seminars in USA – Florida Atlantic University and Keen State College - 4 teachers • YadVashem (Jerusalem) 20 teachers • 3 seminars in Slovakia with multiplicators á 40 teachers

16. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority 2003 • Meeting of international WG in Bratislava • Seminar in USA Columbia College – 1 teacher • I. meeting of multiplicators in Košice – 40 teachers • Trilateral German, Austrian and Slovak seminar in Vienna 20+5+5 • Introductory visit to Terezín Memorial in Czech republic 2004 • Meeting of international WG in Bratislava • II. meeting of multiplicators in Žilina/Auschwitz - 40 teachers • Closing seminar in Berlin - 20 • Educational package

17. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority 2005 • 2 seminars in Terezín (Czech republic) 2 x 40 teachers • USA seminar Florida Holocaust Museum 2 teachers • Presentation of bilingual educational brochure German/Slovak • III. meeting of multiplicators in Komárno/Budapest

18. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority Slovak Membership in ITF • Approval by government - membership as well as financial contribution of 25.000 USD per year • Baseline study • Approval procedure in ITF Meeting in Cracow November 15,2005

19. Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic International Cooperation Division International School for Holocaust Studies Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority • Slovak Republic after ITF Membership • Documentation Holocaust Center in Bratislava