Rakovec also informed the attendees that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the IHRA's non-legally binding definition of antisemitism two years ago, and last year, the IHRA's non-legally binding definition of Holocaust denial and distortion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided for the translation of the recently adopted non-legally binding IHRA definition of Antigypsyism/Anti-Roma Discrimination.

The drafting and coordination process of the Slovenian version also drew on the expertise and experience of the Council of Roma Community and the Government Office for National Minorities that later published the text on its website. The MFA also provided for the translation of the IHRA Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust that were adopted in 2019 as a valuable resource to help educators and educational institutions tackle this important topic. 

Rakovec went on to describe how the fight against antisemitism has also been included among the priorities of the current Presidency Trio (Germany, Portugal and Slovenia) of the Council of the EU. The Justice and Home Affairs Council recently adopted a declaration instructing EU Member States to adopt national action plans in this regard.

At the end of the meeting, Acting Director-General Rakovec extended his congratulations to members of the Slovenian delegation elected to important positions within the IHRA: Irena Šumi was elected head of the Academic Working Group for 2021, and Alenka Spreizer Janko as chair of the IHRA Committee on the Genocide of the Roma for 2021. The appointments testify to their outstanding work within the IHRA, and also recognise the contribution of the entire Slovenian delegation to the IHRA.

Learn more about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance meeting