Advancing Holocaust Education and Remembrance through Regional Cooperation

Within UNESCO’s EU-funded project, in a renewed show of unity, representatives of the successor states of former Yugoslavia are reaffirming a shared commitment to preserving historical memory.

Since 2011, UNESCO has played a leading role in supporting efforts to restore Block 17, the Yugoslav Pavilion at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. In 2024, the participating successor states of former Yugoslavia reached a landmark agreement to renovate the space and create a new permanent exhibition honouring victims from the region. 

Building on this momentum, the UNESCO Office in Venice launched the regional project ‘Strengthening Remembrance and Education on the Holocaust in former Yugoslavia’. Funded by the EU, the initiative extends the impact of the Block 17 beyond the memorial itself, through a travelling exhibition and a comprehensive educational programme, designed to deepen Holocaust awareness and strengthen regional dialogue. 

On 4-6 February 2026, representatives of the Ministries of Culture and Education of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia met in Sarajevo to move this vision forward. Their meeting concluded with the finalisation of the Concept for the Permanent Joint Exhibition in Block 17, an important step presenting a coordinated regional narrative grounded in shared history and responsibility.

"This is one of the most emblematic regional initiatives, bringing together 6 successor states of the former Yugoslavia in a shared commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education. It stands out as the only current intersectoral programme in the region that unites culture and education authorities around a common vision of remembrance, responsibility and learning."

Siniša Šešum, Head, UNESCO Antenna in Sarajevo

Rooted in a common and often contested history, the exhibition does not shy away from complexity. It addresses the sensitive and difficult past, bringing together diverse experiences into a single, inclusive story. By presenting these experiences collectively, the project seeks to foster understanding, support reconciliation, and reinforce a common commitment to human rights across the region.

Education stands at the heart of the initiative. In collaboration with EuroClio (European Association of History Educators) and experts from across the region, participants reviewed curriculum aligned tools such as a Guide for Policymakers and a Guide for Educators. These tools will support the travelling exhibition and ensure materials are locally relevant and pedagogically strong.

The educational programme goes beyond the history of the Holocaust, exploring human rights, democratic citizenship, and long-term consequences of genocide. By strengthening institutional capacities, embedding Holocaust education within curricula and teacher training systems, the project will empower teachers, trainers, educators, and education policymakers to effectively tackle this sensitive historical content. 

Together, the travelling exhibition and educational programme turn remembrance into action. By confronting divisive narratives and filling gaps in Holocaust education, they lay the groundwork for a more inclusive understanding of history. As catalysts for tolerance and respect for human rights, they equip younger generations with a deeper awareness of the Holocaust, helping prevent future atrocities and build a lasting culture of peace in the region.