Events

UNESCO and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) organize a round-table on 6 December 2016 to examine current responses to prevent antisemitism amongst young people.

Despite efforts undertaken by governments, civil society organizations and international bodies in recent years to address the problem, Jews are still physically threatened and remain the object of prejudice in many societies. What are the contemporary manifestations of the “longest hatred”? Should there be specific responses to antisemitism distinct from policies targeting other forms of prejudice? Are measures already being implemented to respond to antisemitism impactful and efficient? What policies should be put in place to strengthen prevention though education, culture and communication?

The round-table, introduced by former Minister of Justice and President of the Constitutional Court of France Robert Badinter, will gather distinguished international experts on the subject: Steven Katz, Adviser to the IHRA and Professor of Jewish and Holocaust Studies at the University of Boston; Dina Porat, Head of the Kantor Center for the Study of European Jewry, Tel Aviv University, Jean-Yves Camus, Associate Researcher at the French Institute of International and Strategic Relations, Katharina von Schnurbein, European Union Coordinator on Combatting Antisemitism, Dervis Hizarci, Chair of the Kreuzberger Initiative gegen Antisemitismus and Cristina Finch, Head of the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The round-table will be moderator by Sandrine Treiner, Director of France Culture.

The IHRA was the first intergovernmental organization to adopt a “Working Definition of Antisemitism” to help its 31 Member Countries better monitor its manifestations. The definition will be presented during the round-table to serve as a basis for discussion and provide clarity on the term ‘antisemitism’, with a view to strengthening Member States commitments to combat antisemitism and all forms of discriminations and intolerance.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance unites governments and experts to shape and advance Holocaust education, remembrance and research world-wide, to speak out on Holocaust related issues including antisemitism, and to uphold the commitments of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration.