Many IHRA Member Countries confront common challenges domestically, and overcoming these can often benefit from sharing knowledge at the intergovernmental level. The IHRA’s working definitions of antisemitism (2016) and Holocaust denial and distortion (2013 ) – drafted by IHRA experts and approved by IHRA Member Countries – provide an essential mutual starting point for addressing these issues at the national level.
Our working definitions and charters are available in multiple languages. Click on each individual document to see which languages the resource is available in.
While we try to ensure the accuracy of all of our translations, in the event of any discrepancies the English translation takes precedence.
- Working Definition of Holocaust Denial and Distortion (adopted October 2013). To guide the IHRA in its work, IHRA’s Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial drafted a paper on Holocaust distortion and denial. The paper is a living document which will be regularly updated.
- Working Definition of Antisemitism (adopted May 2016). For further information, please consult the Fact Sheet on the Working Definition of Antisemitism which outlines the background of the working definition.
To date, the working definition has been adopted or endorsed by the following governments and bodies: the United Kingdom (12 December 2016), Israel (22 January 2017), Austria (25 April 2017) Scotland (27 April 2017), Romania (25 May 2017), Germany (20 September 2017), Bulgaria (18 October 2017), Belgium (14 December 2018), Sweden (January 2018), Lithuania (24 January 2018), the Republic of North Macedonia (6 March 2018), the Netherlands (27 November 2018), Slovakia (28 November 2018), Republic of Moldova (18 January 2019), Czech Republic (25 January 2019), Greek Ministry of Education (11 February 2019), Hungary (18 February 2019), Canada ( 27 June 2019), Luxembourg (10 July 2019), Greece (8 November 2019), France (3 December 2019), Cyprus (18 December 2019), Italy (17 January 2020), Sweden (21 January 2020).
- Working Definition of Holocaust-related Materials outlines which types of materials can be considered to fall under "Holocaust-Related Materials".
- International Memorial Museums Charter (adopted in 2012) puts forth internationally agreed principles and ethics for commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, helping to avoid the politicization or nationalization of their memory.
