Post-Holocaust Envoy - Terms of Reference V2
UNITED KINGDOM ENVOY FOR POST-HOLOCAUST ISSUES
Terms of Reference
Context:
As a signatory to the Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust of January 2000, the UK recognises that the Holocaust fundamentally challenged the foundations of civilisation. The Envoy’s role complements and supports broader HMG interests as part of its commitment to democracy and human rights, and aspires to bring justice and assistance to Holocaust victims and their families.
Recalling Britain’s initiative in convening the 1997 London Conference on Nazi Gold, the Envoy is guided by the UK’s subsequent commitments to the December 1998 Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, the 2000 Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust, the October 2000 Declaration of the Vilnius International Forum on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets, the 2006 Amendment of the Bonn Accords of the International Commission of the International Tracing Service, and the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets and Related Issues of June 2009.
Role:
The United Kingdom Envoy for post-Holocaust issues is responsible for developing and implementing UK Government policy with respect to encouraging the restitution of Holocaust-era assets, including art and immovable property; ensuring the accessibility and preservation of the Bad Arolsen archival record of the Nazi era and its aftermath, and promoting Holocaust education, remembrance and research.
The Envoy will report to and advise the Foreign Secretary. The Envoy will be assisted and guided by stakeholders with specialist knowledge of the key post-Holocaust issues.
Main purpose of job:
At this critical juncture when Holocaust survivors and refugees who settled in Britain are coming to the end of their lives and several post-Holocaust issues remain unresolved, the Envoy will drive a more coherent and strategic approach to HMG’s efforts on a range of post-Holocaust issues, including implementation of the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets; resolving outstanding issues related to property and art restitution; representing the UK in discussions at the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research and the International Tracing Service; providing a senior point of contact for UK non-governmental experts on these issues; and representing the interests of stakeholders.
Responsibilities:
- Developing a coherent Whitehall policy towards Holocaust-era property and art restitution issues, with the involvement of other Government Departments and domestic stakeholders as necessary. Identifying key opportunities for engagement with other governments to resolve ongoing claims issues and encouraging restitution in all countries.
- Resolving the ongoing issues around the UK taking a copy of the Bad Arolsen archive, through consultation with other Government Departments and domestic stakeholders.
- Representing the UK at appropriate meetings of the European Shoah Legacy Institute (the Terezin Institute). Working with other governments within the Institute, particularly the US, to drive forward implementation of the Terezin Declaration, including through the development of a set of "Guidelines and best practices for the compensation and restitution of immovable (real) property".
- Representing the UK as Head of Delegation to appropriate meetings of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF). Working closely with the Governments of Israel and The Netherlands as they take forward the agenda of the ITF under their Chair in 2010 and 2011 respectively, including through developing agreed Whitehall policy towards reform of the ITF’s working methods.
- Representing the UK as Head of Delegation to appropriate meetings of the International Tracing Service (ITS), including those related to the future role and governance of the ITS.
- Convening meetings and representing the UK at other post-Holocaust related meetings as necessary.
- Raising awareness of the UK’s commitment to post-Holocaust issues.
- Engaging UK non-governmental experts in the development of policy on these issues.