Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the designation of a new Canadian Head of Delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Canada's Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Jeffrey Marder, will assume the role.
With nearly three decades of experience, Ambassador Marder has held senior leadership roles across Canada's foreign service and advanced Canada's human rights priorities internationally, including as Canada's former Executive Director of the Human Rights and Indigenous Affairs Policy Division. He also served as interim head of Canada's delegation to IHRA in 2023. Prior to joining the foreign service in 1997, Ambassador Marder completed graduate studies at Simon Fraser University, where his research focused on the Jewish diaspora community in Argentina.
Ambassador Marder's experience will support Canada's ongoing engagement with the IHRA and its work to advance Holocaust remembrance, education and research internationally. He succeeds Angelica Liao-Moroz, Executive Director of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion, who served as Canada's interim Head of Delegation this past year. The IHRA comprises 35 member countries and 8 observer countries committed to Holocaust education, remembrance, and research. Canada joined the IHRA in 2009 and served as its chair from 2013-2014. In 2019, Canada adopted the IHRA's non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism as part of Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy.
Ambassador Marder will lead Canada's delegation of experts, working with them to advance Canada's engagement at the IHRA. Their contributions to the IHRA's expert working groups and committees will help advance the Alliance's important work.
The Government of Canada remains committed to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, advancing efforts to combat antisemitism, and promoting inclusive, safe and resilient communities where Jewish people can live openly and free from hate and discrimination.
