Events

Recent surveys have shown that historical knowledge of the Holocaust is in decline, while related dis- and misinformation is on the rise. Marking the anniversary of the November 1938 Pogrom, UNESCO and the United Nations and the Holocaust Outreach Programme will organize an online discussion to examine the implications of the recent surveys about Holocaust education and possible responses to the challenges they raise. The online event will take place on 10 November 2020 from 10-11 a.m. EST/ 4-5 p.m. CET. The event will be held in English.

Discussions about Holocaust education usually focus on three main questions: what should be taught, how should it be taught, and to what end?

Recent evidence shows that historical knowledge of the Holocaust is declining in the United States and Europe, despite efforts to promote comprehensive Holocaust education. Simultaneously, research suggests a connection between students’ positive attitudes towards human rights and activism and their exposure to Holocaust education.

Against this backdrop, UNESCO and the United Nations and the Holocaust Outreach Programme will organize on 10 November 2020 an online discussion to revisit answers to these three questions and to discuss possible solutions to current challenges.

The debate will include the participation of Holocaust education experts from various professional and geographical backgrounds, contributing perspectives from formal and informal education, including from schools, higher education, museums and memorial sites.

Speakers:

• Debórah Dwork, Founding Director, The Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity, Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, The Graduate Center – CUNY, United States 
• Stuart Foster, Executive Director of the Center for Holocaust Education, University College London, United Kingdom
• Elke Gryglewski, Head of the Educational Department, Memorial and Educational Site House of the Wannsee Conference, Germany 
• Yael Siman, Associate Professor at the Department of Social and Political Science, Iberoamericana University, Mexico City, Mexico
• Gretchen Skidmore, Director, Education Initiatives, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States 
  
  The event will be introduced by Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division of the UN Department of Global Communications and Cecilia Barbieri, Chief of the Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education at UNESCO. It will include a presentation by Tracey Petersen,  Manager, Education Outreach Section, The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme, UN Department of Global Communications and will be moderated by Karel Fracapane, Programme Specialist, Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education, UNESCO.
   
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Related Content

Useful Links

• UNESCO programme on education about the Holocaust and genocide
• Global Citizenship Education
• The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme

URL:

https://events.unesco.org/event?id=Online_panel_discussion_Holocaust_education_in_crisis3215329495&lang=1033