Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, OSCE officials call for increased commemoration efforts, as part of commitment to addressing anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance
ROME/WARSAW/VIENNA, 26 January 2018 – Ahead of tomorrow’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day, OSCE officials today called on all participating States to commemorate the victims of the Nazi regime, as part of their educational activities to address anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance.
“Saturday’s commemoration is a significant reminder of the murder of six million Jews - an attempt to extinguish a people and its culture. We call on all OSCE participating States to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp and to ensure that the memories of all the victims of the Holocaust remain in the public conscience," said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Italy’s Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. "Tragically, anti-Semitism has not been consigned to history but continues to affect Jewish communities across the OSCE region. It is our duty to make certain that this, and every form of intolerance is met with a powerful response."
As part of these efforts, the OSCE 2018 Italian Chairmanship is hosting the "International Conference on the Responsibility of States, Institutions and Individuals in the Fight against Anti-Semitism in the OSCE Area" in Rome on Monday 29 January. The Italian version of the ODIHR publication Understanding Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Jewish Communities will be launched at the conference.
"As anti-Semitism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination continue to present serious challenges, this commemoration serves as a strong reminder of the importance of collectively standing against all manifestations of hate and intolerance," said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "Education plays a crucial role in grounding our societies on a secure basis of tolerance and making all of us understand that, in light of history, we must remain vigilant in promoting and respecting human rights. Enhancing Holocaust commemoration and education activities across the OSCE region sends a strong signal that no form of discrimination will be 1tolerated."
Today also saw the publication by ODIHR of Holocaust Memorial Days: An overview of remembrance and education in the OSCE region, which provides an overview of remembrance and education practices in participating States regarding the Holocaust, the Roma and Sinti genocide, and all other victims of National Socialist persecution. The publication also shares best practices in the study and commemoration of the Holocaust.
"While National Socialism was overcome some 73 years ago, anti-Semitism was not. Contemporary anti-Semitism poses new challenges, as it manifests itself in a number of often covert and complex ways, including violent attacks against Jewish communities," said Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism. "States have a duty to protect Jewish communities, and ODIHR provides practical tools that can bring states and communities together in response to these threats."