Over $1 Billion In Home Care Secured By The Claims Conference For Holocaust Survivors Globally — Largest Social Welfare Budget In The Organization’s History – claimscon.org

Report on 2025 Negotiations between the Claims Conference and the German Government

A Framework for Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

This report outlines the outcomes of the 2025 negotiations between the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) and the German Federal Ministry of Finance. The resulting agreements represent a landmark achievement in social welfare and historical responsibility, directly contributing to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Analysis of Outcomes in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Advancements in Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

A central outcome of the negotiations is the historic allocation of €923.9 million ($1.08 billion USD) for home care services in 2026. This funding is a direct implementation of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The agreement addresses the escalating health needs of an aging survivor population, whose average age is now 88.5. By enabling survivors to receive care in their own homes, the funding promotes dignity, safety, and quality of life for one of the world’s most vulnerable elderly groups.

• The increased budget reflects the growing complexity of care required by survivors, many of whom suffer from extreme disabilities and chronic conditions.
• The provision of home care for Righteous Rescuers—non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews—further expands this commitment to well-being and acknowledges their profound contribution.

Reducing Inequalities and Poverty (SDG 10 & SDG 1)

The negotiations secured the extension of the Hardship Fund Supplemental Payments through 2028, providing €1,450 annually to over 127,000 eligible survivors. This measure directly supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 1 (No Poverty) by providing a critical financial safety net. These payments help alleviate economic hardship and reduce financial vulnerability among elderly survivors, ensuring a measure of economic security that was denied to them in their youth.

Commitment to Quality Education and Global Citizenship (SDG 4)

The German government has extended its commitment to Holocaust education through 2029, with a total allocation of €175 million ($205 million USD) over the next four years. This investment is fundamental to achieving SDG 4: Quality Education, which includes educating for global citizenship and the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence. In an era of rising antisemitism and declining historical awareness, this funding is critical for:

• Developing and disseminating educational curricula about the Shoah.
• Preserving survivor testimonies through modern technologies like virtual reality and film.
• Ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust are integrated into global education to prevent future atrocities.

Fostering Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16 & SDG 17)

The continued dialogue and successful negotiations between the Claims Conference and the German government serve as a powerful example of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Germany’s steadfast commitment, even amidst fiscal challenges, demonstrates a robust institutional dedication to historical justice and accountability. This partnership between a government and a non-governmental organization exemplifies a collaborative approach to addressing complex global challenges and upholding moral obligations.

Summary of Negotiated Outcomes

The key results from the negotiations are detailed below:

1. Home Care Funding (SDG 3): An additional €30 million was secured for global home care, bringing the total for 2026 to €923.9 million.
2. Holocaust Education Funding (SDG 4): The program was extended to 2029 with an additional €3 million, for a total of €48 million in 2029 and an overall four-year commitment of €175 million.
3. Hardship Fund Supplemental Payments (SDG 1 & SDG 10): Annual payments of €1,450 for eligible survivors have been extended through 2028, benefiting over 127,000 individuals.
4. Support for Righteous Rescuers (SDG 3 & SDG 10): Non-Jewish rescuers will now be eligible for home care services, ensuring they can live their final years with dignity.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
  
  The article addresses the financial vulnerability of Holocaust survivors by highlighting supplemental payments from the Hardship Fund. This fund is specifically aimed at providing financial support to “the poorest of Holocaust survivors,” directly contributing to poverty alleviation for this specific demographic.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  
  The central theme of the article is securing funding for home care services for elderly survivors. It details their increasing age, frailty, and complex health needs, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The funding ensures they receive necessary personal care, allowing them to live safely and promoting their well-being.
• SDG 4: Quality Education
  
  The article explicitly mentions an extended commitment and significant funding (€175 million) for Holocaust education. This initiative aims to combat the decline in public understanding of the Holocaust and rising antisemitism, promoting education for peace and human rights.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  
  The efforts described in the article are focused on a specific, vulnerable, and historically marginalized group: elderly Holocaust survivors. By providing targeted financial and healthcare support, the initiative aims to reduce the inequalities they face due to age, health status, and past injustices, ensuring they can live their final years with dignity.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  
  The article describes negotiations between the Claims Conference and the German government, which represent an institutional mechanism for delivering restorative justice for historical atrocities. Furthermore, funding Holocaust education is a key strategy to promote peaceful and inclusive societies by ensuring the lessons of the past are not forgotten, thereby helping to prevent future violence.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 1 (No Poverty):
   • Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
     
     Explanation: The Hardship Fund Supplemental Payments and pensions function as a social protection system for a highly vulnerable group, providing a financial floor to alleviate poverty among more than 127,000 survivors.
2. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services…for all.
     
     Explanation: The €923.9 million budget for home care provides financial protection and direct access to essential health services (like assistance with showering, dressing, and managing disabilities) for elderly survivors, enabling them to “age in place.”
3. Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for…a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity…
     
     Explanation: The funding for Holocaust education directly supports this target by aiming to instill lessons about human rights, the dangers of intolerance, and the importance of a culture of peace to a wide audience.
4. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social…inclusion of all, irrespective of age…disability…or other status.
     
     Explanation: The programs provide care and financial aid specifically to empower an elderly and disabled population, ensuring their social inclusion and allowing them to live with dignity, which was “stolen from them in their youth.”
5. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
     
     Explanation: The ongoing negotiations and compensation payments represent a form of long-term restorative justice, acknowledging historical wrongs and providing material redress for victims.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 1.3 (Social Protection):
   • The number of beneficiaries of the Hardship Fund: “more than 127,000 survivors worldwide.”
   • The amount of the supplemental payment: “€1,450” annually.
2. For Target 3.8 (Health Coverage):
   • The total budget allocated for home care: “€923.9 million for 2026.”
   • Data on the increasing need for care: The average age of survivors increased from 86 to 88.5, and the “number of clients who qualify for full-time assistance due to extreme disability…has nearly doubled” since 2018.
3. For Target 4.7 (Education for Peace):
   • The total financial commitment to education: “€175 million over the next four years.”
   • The annual funding amount: “€48 million in 2029.”
4. For Target 10.2 (Social Inclusion):
   • The number of survivors receiving home care, which allows them to remain in their communities. While the exact number is not given, the budget size implies a large-scale program.
   • The extension of home care services to “Righteous Rescuers,” indicating a broadening of inclusion efforts.
5. For Target 16.3 (Access to Justice):
   • The successful outcome of negotiations and the sustained financial commitment from the German government serve as a key indicator of the effectiveness of this institutional justice mechanism.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: claimscon.org