Thank you, Mr Chair.
Allow me also to thank the United States for raising this important issue.
Holocaust denial and distortion are not merely disputes about the past. They are present-day threats that corrode truth, undermine social cohesion, and fuel antisemitism.
Denial seeks to erase the reality of the Holocaust. Distortion can be more insidious it minimises, trivialises, or manipulates the facts – often masquerading as “debate” or “enquiry”. Both deny dignity to victims and survivors; both create space for hatred to spread.
Across the OSCE region, we are witnessing a deeply troubling resurgence of antisemitism. Jewish communities fear for their safety. Hate is traveling faster than ever – online, on our streets, and through narratives that distort or deny the Holocaust.
The OSCE has a vital role to play. Our shared commitments on tolerance and non‑discrimination remain a foundation for action. ODIHR’s work – supporting participating States, engaging civil society, and strengthening practical responses – continues to be essential to turning commitments into impact.
We thank the Swiss Chairpersonship for convening participating States in St Gallen in February to highlight these challenges and discuss trends and solutions. The conference underlined a simple truth while physical security measures remain necessary, they alone cannot provide lasting safety. Lasting resilience requires addressing the roots of antisemitism and strengthening the social fabric in which Jewish life is valued and protected.
We must also be clear-eyed about the dangers of manipulating the past for political ends. When historically loaded language is deployed loosely, when the horrors of Nazism are trivialised through indiscriminate labelling, or when the language of genocide is repurposed in ways that dilute the Holocaust’s historical meaning, the result is the same truth is weakened, and respect for victims is diminished.
During the UK’s Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance we prioritised safeguarding remembrance and tackling Holocaust distortion, including risks from artificial intelligence and digital manipulation. We worked with partners, including at the OSCE, to deepen cooperation and build expertise, notably at the Bucharest Conference on Holocaust Distortion and Education.
Mr Chair, I want to conclude by returning to why this discussion matters. Last week in London, an antisemitic attack targeted members of the Jewish community simply for being Jewish. It was appalling. Attacks on Jewish people for being Jewish are attacks on us all – on our values, our security on our shared decency. They leave Jews fearful of being themselves and questioning whether they belong.
This is the human cost of hatred left unchallenged. Holocaust denial and distortion are not abstract distortions of history; they are part of the same ecosystem of antisemitism that leads to fear, violence and insecurity today.
The United Kingdom will not tolerate antisemitism, no matter how it manifests. We recognise the scale of the challenge – and we will meet it.
That means implementing the commitments we have made, supporting ODIHR’s practical work, confronting denial and distortion wherever they arise, and protecting Jewish communities across the OSCE region. The United Kingdom stands ready to work with all participating States to deliver that.
Thank you.
