Memorandum of Understanding between the ITF and the OSCE/ODIHR
ITF Chairman Dan Tichon, and Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the ITF and the OSCE/ODIHR in Jerusalem.
For more than ten years the ITF has been dedicated to placing political and social leaders' support behind the need for Holocaust education, remembrance and research both nationally and internationally. This is based on the commitment of its member States to the Declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust.
The OSCE/ODIHR, a Permanent Observer of the ITF, is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law. In the wake of a rise of Antisemitism in the OSCE region in recent years, OSCE participating States have committed themselves to strengthen their efforts to confront all manifestations of Antisemitism, and all other acts of intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, wherever they occur. The OSCE/ODIHR has developed several studies, teaching materials and guidelines on Holocaust Remembrance and on Antisemitism.
The purpose of the Memorandum between the OSCE/ODIHR and the ITF is to enhance their cooperation on combating antisemitism, xenophobia, hate crimes and other forms of extremism.
This cooperation aims to raise awareness of the importance of Holocaust education and remembrance in the member States of the ITF and the participating States of the OSCE, including encouraging governments to strengthen Holocaust education and educational efforts to confront antisemitism in their societies and share best practices.
With this Memorandum of Understanding the ITF looks forward to continuing its cooperation with the OSCE/ODIHR and to have their experts work closely together.
