Remembering for the Future – Joint Statement by the Youth Councils of Germany and Israel on the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp

We, the youth councils and youth organizations of Germany and Israel, remember the millions of Jewish victims and all those who were murdered during the Shoah. The immeasurable suffering caused by National Socialism reminds us of the importance of keeping the memory alive and actively working against forgetting.

In 2015 and 2018, the German Federal Youth Council (DBJR), the Israeli Youth Council "Council of Youth Movements in Israel" (CYMI), and the Polish Youth Council "Polska Rada Organizacji Młodzieżowych" (PROM) held trilateral seminars to jointly commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and draw lessons for the future. In January 2015, the youth councils met in Kraków, where they signed a joint declaration emphasizing their commitment to remembrance and the promotion of a diverse society.

In May 2018, the three youth councils came together again, this time in Warsaw, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In another joint declaration, they underscored the importance of remembrance and highlighted the necessity of restistance against injustice and oppression.

Since these trilateral seminars, numerous bilateral meetings between the youth councils of Germany, Israel, and Poland have taken place, breathing life into the goals formulated in the joint declarations. Moreover, the youth councils are closely connected through their shared work on freedom, democracy, and human rights—core values of the Council of Europe.

In a time when antisemitic attacks and hate speech are on the rise again, our commitment to combating antisemitism is more important than ever. We firmly oppose all forms of antisemitism and racism. It is our duty to learn from history and work toward a society that embraces diversity and tolerance. The words “Never again” are not merely a remembrance for us but a call to action against all forms of discrimination and for the protection of human rights and dignity.

Remembrance policy plays a central role in safeguarding our democracies. Preserving history and learning from it are essential for upholding democratic values such as freedom, equality, and justice. Confronting the crimes of the past prevents indifference and helps expose and combat extremist and anti-democratic tendencies. Remembering is not just about looking back—it is a foundation for building a future based on democracy and solidarity

As youth organizations from both countries, we are committed to keeping the memory of the Shoah alive and raising awareness of the dangers of antisemitism and racism through our educational work. We reaffirm our dedication to combating all forms of antisemitism and to ensuring that the horrors of the past are never repeated.