At a plenary meeting in Debrecen, Hungary, the representatives of the 31 member countries of the IHRA accepted Switzerland's candidacy to chair the organisation in 2017. Switzerland, which has been an IHRA member since 2004, will take over the chairmanship from Romania. The head of the Swiss delegation, Ambassador Benno Bättig, secretary-general of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will take on the position of IHRA Chair in 2017.

The IHRA aims to promote, especially in its member countries, historical research and education about the Holocaust and to preserve the memory of victims through commemorations and memorials. The IHRA is an intergovernmental organisation that works closely with institutional partners such as the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and UNESCO.

Following an FDFA proposal approved by the Federal Council on 14 October 2015, Switzerland will organise two IHRA plenary meetings in 2017, the first in Geneva and the second in Bern. Switzerland looks forward to welcoming some 200 IHRA delegates to strengthen our shared commitment against genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, as set out in the IHRA charter (Stockholm Declaration). Furthermore, at the beginning of 2016, the University of Teacher Education Lucerne will host an international IHRA research conference on education about the Holocaust.

Switzerland is very active in the IHRA's priority areas. In 2003, the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education designated 27 January, the date of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, as Holocaust Remembrance Day in Swiss schools. On this day, various activities are traditionally organised in several cantons, and the President of the Swiss Confederation delivers a speech. In addition, the FDFA actively supported the publication of previously unpublished memoirs by Holocaust survivors which were handed over to the President of the Confederation in January of this year.

When Switzerland joined the IHRA, the FDFA set up an advisory group composed of key federal, cantonal and non-governmental actors that will be involved in shaping and promoting Switzerland's future chairmanship.

Further information:

Stories and faces of holocaust survivors
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

Address for enquiries:

Information FDFA
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: +41 58 462 31 53
Fax: +41 58 464 90 47
E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Gathering experience at different research institutes, including abroad, is often a necessary step en route to a successful postdoctoral qualification and academic career. However, many academics in some EU member states are unable to undertake or complete research abroad because the cost of living is too high. The now concluded Sciex-NMS.ch fellowship program enabled young researchers from the twelve states that joined the European Union since 2004 to undertake research at a Swiss university for a limited period.

The program distributed total funds of CHF 47 million and more than 500 young researchers from more than 150 scientific institutions participated in the program.

In Hungary it is one of 37 projects, programs or funds that were approved under the Hungarian-Swiss Cooperation Program by June of 2012. This Program, in the amount of 130 million Swiss Francs, forms part of a broader Swiss Contribution in favour of all 12 EU member It assists Hungary and the other EU member states in reducing economic and social disparities domestically as well as within the enlarged European Union.

The Swiss-Hungarian Cooperation Program also strengthens bilateral relationship between Switzerland and Hungary.

Approx. 20 fellows followed the invitation together with representatives from different Hungarian authorities as well as from the Swiss Federal department of Foreign Affairs.

The lively and pleasant discussion among the participants showed that from nanophysics to rock mechanics, from analytical chemistry to neuroscience, networks in a large number of research disciplines have been established, expanded and strengthened. Hungary, benefits from this fellowship program not only because science and research are important for innovation and economic development but because it increases their human capital. The Swiss representatives were glad to hear that all fellows considered their stay in Switzerland as extremely encouraging and useful for their career. In addition, the mentors and the researchers have deepened and widened the Swiss-Hungarian bilateral relations by intensifying partnerships between research institutions that could continue well beyond the period of the research placement itself.

Thanks to his successful program as well as the pleasant atmosphere only happy faces could be seen during this evening.