Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

During the last few years, some parts of the OSCE region have seen a resurgence of anti-Semitism. In response, the OSCE participating States committed themselves to combat anti-Semitism including through educational programmes on the Holocaust.

With the Berlin Declaration, the participating States committed themselves "to promote remembrance of, and as appropriate, education about the tragedy of the Holocaust and the importance of respect for all ethnic and religious groups". The OSCE has reiterated this in successive meetings, condemned without reserve anti-Semitism, and recalled the importance of education on the Holocaust and on anti-Semitism as a means for preventing and responding to all forms of intolerance and discrimination.

The ODIHR is tasked to collect and disseminate information on best practices for preventing and responding to anti-Semitism and to assist participating States in their efforts to prevent and respond to anti-Semitism.

The ODIHR produced a study Education on the Holocaust and on Anti-Semitism: An Overview and Analysis of Educational Approaches that identifies good practices by OSCE states and civil society, provides recommendations, and highlights new challenges that need to be addressed in education on the Holocaust and on anti-Semitism.

The ODIHR has developed, in co-operation with Yad Vashem in Israel, practical guidelines entitled "Preparing Holocaust Memorial Days: Suggestions for Educators" that highlight best practice modules. The guidelines have been developed for educators teaching high school students in the OSCE participating States and are currently available in 13 languages.

In 2008, the ODIHR published an overview of Holocaust Memorial Days in the OSCE region, and the role that governments, parliamentarians and other public officials play in such commemorations.