GOPA PACE - Establishment of a secretariat to develop and support the operations of the European Network of Places Where the Holocaust happened

At a glance

Sector: Peace & Security
Key topic: Cultural heritage
Client: EU

Start date: 12/2024
End date: 12/2027
Duration:

month(s)
Type:
TA

WHY

With the last survivors of the Holocaust passing away, places where the Holocaust happened are becoming more important to ensure Holocaust education and remembrance for the decades to come and reveal the European and local implications of this genocide. Holocaust sites face a wide range of challenges that complicate their preservation for future generations. They include a lack of visitors, a lack of ownership and commitment of local and regional authorities, a lack of resources, natural disasters and human-made destruction, a lack of information and educational programmes, limited access to digital information, and finally being unmarked. This can lead to the distortion of the historic facts.

WHAT

The European Network of Places Where the Holocaust Happened is a flagship project of the European Commission, included in the first European Strategy on Combatting Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021-2030). The project addresses the need to preserve Holocaust remembrance and education, counter rising antisemitism, and promote democratic values and human rights. It aims to create a network of Holocaust sites, ensuring their maintenance and educational use for future generations. The project is set to establish a secretariat for the European Network of Places Where the Holocaust Happened, ensuring its yearly operations, promoting Holocaust remembrance and education, and supporting the preservation and maintenance of Holocaust sites across Europe.

HOW

The European Network of Places Where the Holocaust Happened shall reach 50 sites by the end of 2027. The Secretariat will oversee the operations of this network, by mapping sites and good practices; maintaining a wide contact with sites and public authorities; develop new communication channels, including a website and social media channels; and prepare the selection criteria to select the future sites. The Secretariat will be advised by a Steering Committee composed by 5 members. A Working Group of up to forty representatives will develop an overview of good practices regarding policies regional and local authorities can develop to ensure the safeguarding, preservation, valorisation and visit of Holocaust sites.

RESULTS / ACHIEVEMENTS

Expected tasks include:

- Establishing and sustaining the secretariat;

- Information gathering and the mapping of good practices and relevant existing projects;

- Developing a vision for the future of the network and sites that join, as well as a procedure and criteria for places and sites to join the network;

- Develop a website and visual identity for the network;

- Promoting the network among the relevant stakeholders;

- Organising working groups with representatives of sites and, regional and local authorities;

- Organising conferences on preserving and maintaining Holocaust sites, workshops in EU Member States to support regional and local authorities to safeguard sites, and ceremonies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Building the “European network of places where the Holocaust happened” is a commitment of the European Commission in the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life. The European Network of Places Where the Holocaust Happened shall reach 50 sites by the end of 2027.