International round table "Countering anti-Semitism: Main trends and challenges in the OSCE region"

On March 17, 2009, a round table "Combating Anti-Semitism: Key Trends and Challenges in the OSCE Region" was held in Vienna, organized by the OSCE/ODIHR.

Three thematic sessions were held within the framework of the round table.

At the first working session "The main manifestations of anti-Semitism in the OSCE region" attention was paid to two main issues:

• "Violent attacks against people and property" (speaker - Norbert Ginterleitner (OSCE))

• Anti-Semitism in public discourse (speakers — Milos Haraszti (OSCE) and Ronald Essens (Magenta Foundation)

The second working session considered the activities of state institutions. The main attention was paid to the problems of countering anti-Semitic manifestations, the legal classification of hate crimes (including anti-Semitic ones), as well as the problems of international cooperation in the field of teaching the history of the Holocaust and research in this area, the role of these educational and research programs in countering anti-Semitism was considered.

The third working session was devoted to developing recommendations for the OSCE, OSCE member states and civil society.

The text of the speech of the SOVA Center representative at the round table meeting can be found in the "Publications" section.