Irwin Cotler, at The Blogs

Irwin Cotler

Apr 24, 2025, 3:44 PM

The universal lessons of the Shoah and how to act upon them

In this video frame, Sudanese displaced children take shelter in a school after being evacuated by the Sudanese army from areas once controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, Sudan, located across the Nile River from Khartoum, on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo)

Remembering the Holocaust is just the beginning: Here are 15 steps we must take today on behalf of our common humanity

Jan 24, 2025, 4:14 PM

The imperative of freeing the hostages and the crime of releasing terrorists

I write in the shadow and continuing pain of the mass atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and its collaborators on October 7th -- murder, rape, torture, mutilation, pillaging and burning -- culminating in the cruel and violent abduction of 251...

Jan 26, 2024, 3:26 PM

12 ways South Africa weaponized the Genocide Convention against Israel

Saturday January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, where we mark the 75th anniversary of the death camp Auschwitz, the most brutal extermination camp of the 20th century -- of remembrance and reminder of genocidal horrors too terrible to...

Jan 20, 2024, 4:16 PM

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Raoul Wallenberg: Remembering a hero of humanity

The world must finally learn the fate of the Swedish diplomat who saw 'no other choice' but to help Jews during the Holocaust

Apr 18, 2023, 1:27 PM

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Yom HaShoah: The imperative to remember, the call to act

Ethnic Rohingya people rest on Lampanah Leungah beach after landing in Aceh Besar, Aceh province, Indonesia, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. A boat carrying dozens of Rohingya Muslims fleeing from refugee camps in Bangladesh landed in Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh, local officials said. (AP/Riska Munawarah)

12 Holocaust lessons that are searingly relevant in today's era of surging antisemitism, denial, and, yes, genocide

Jan 27, 2022, 4:57 PM

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10 Holocaust lessons and how to implement them

In recalling horrors too terrible to be believed but not too terrible to have happened, we are obligated to give voice to the voiceless and to empower the powerless

Jan 19, 2022, 3:52 PM

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Raoul Wallenberg rescued 100,000 Jews. He deserves better.

Raoul Wallenberg in his office
Photo: Wikipedia

Those who know the Swedish diplomat as the ‘greatest humanitarian of the 20th century' should unite to secure the truth about what befell him in the Soviet gulag

Sep 24, 2021, 2:52 PM

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The Durban legacy of hate, 20 years later

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly at United Nations headquarters in New York, on September 22, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)

Many countries have recognized the increased antisemitism that Durban wrought, but it must still be exposed, redressed, and combated with a global action plan

May 27, 2021, 3:04 PM

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Gaza: 10 steps on the road not yet traveled

One of the many things that must change for peace between Israelis and Palestinians: Children affiliated with the Hamas terror group display a representation of breaking through the border with Israel and taking over an IDF military post, in Gaza City, on September 1, 2019. (Hassan Jedi/Flash90)

Remove Hamas and its ilk from the picture, and Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible: two states for two peoples living side by side in peace and security

Apr 23, 2020, 12:46 PM

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The pandemic and asylum seekers: Threat and response

African migrants take part at a protest against the "Deposit Law" in Tel Aviv on June 10, 2017. African asylum seekers protest on Saturday against the "Deposit Law", following which Eritreans and Sudanese are required to deposit fifth percent of their salary. Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90

African asylum seekers are more of an asset to Israel than a burden; when the country ties up their funds with the Deposit Law, it penalizes the very people it should be helping

About Me

Irwin Cotler is Emeritus Professor of Law at McGill University, International Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Canada, longtime parliamentarian, and International Legal Counsel to Prisoners of Conscience. He is Canada’s first Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.