OSCE rights office, Holocaust education task force formalize co-operation on combating anti-Semitism

JERUSALEM, 21 July 2010 - The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, today formalized the office's partnership with the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (ITF) by signing, together with ITF chair Dan Tichon, a memorandum of understanding aimed at intensifying joint efforts to combat anti-Semitism.

At the signing ceremony in Jerusalem, Lenarcic stressed that ODIHR and the ITF, currently chaired by Israel, can build on several years of fruitful co-operation: "With the signing of this memorandum, we want to open a new chapter in our common work to promote Holocaust education."

Earlier this year, ODIHR published an overview of government activities on Holocaust memorial days across the OSCE region, which was developed in co-operation with the ITF. In November 2008, ODIHR and the ITF jointly hosted a meeting with international organizations in Vienna marking the 70th anniversary of the November pogroms in 1938.

ODIHR is tasked by OSCE participating States to advise them in their efforts to combat anti-Semitism. Participating States have repeatedly stressed the importance of education on anti-Semitism and committed themselves to encourage educational programmes in that field.