By Gemma Lougheed - 27th January 2006
Anti-racist and Jewish groups have marked Holocaust day with calls on the EU to better educate Europe’s youth about the perils of racism.
As survivors, government and religious leaders gather in Auschwitz on Friday to mark Holocaust memorial day, campaigners insist there is no room for racism or anti-semitism in Europe.
“The Holocaust has to be remembered across Europe and the entire world, and its history should be taught to the younger generations,” said Pascale Charton, director of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).
The ENAG is strongly urging the Austrian EU presidency to step up European action against incitement to racial hatred and educational efforts to counter prejudice.
“It is essential that holocaust education be integrated in the school curricula, and that it should be a core part of the fight against racism and xenophobia,” said Charton.
“The Austrian presidency must examine the relationship between freedom of expression and measures to combat hate crime.”
The European Jewish Information Centre (CEJI) has also called on the Austrian EU presidency to intensify efforts to eliminate the evils of racism.
“This implies among other things the enforcement of harmonised anti-discrimination legislation, and mainstreaming diversity education,” said CEJI’s Chairperson, Baron Alain Philippson, in an open letter to the EU presidency and European commission.
“We ask you to assist programmes that educate Europeans about diversity and inclusion.”
“You must follow up statements with practical steps in order to afford all European citizens equal opportunities.”
The UN last year passed a resolution to make January 27 an annual day of remembrance for the six million Jews killed during World War II.
UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, said that the Holocaust should be remembered with horror and shame as well as insisting that Holocaust deniers are ‘bigots’.
"It must be remembered, with shame and horror, for as long as human memory continues," said Annan.
"We must reject false claims whenever, wherever and by whomever they are made. Remembering the tragedy of six million Jews and millions of minorities killed during World War II in Nazi Germany would be a safeguard for the future.”
"As the Holocaust recedes in time, and as the number of survivors dwindles, it falls on us, the current generation, to carry the torch of remembrance and uphold the cause of human dignity," he said.
Annan’s comments come just three days after Iran announced it was to host a conference that will examine the "scientific evidence" for the Holocaust.
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