Note to Correspondents

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION HOLDING 8 NOVEMBER SEMINAR

 

ON COMBATING HATRED -- PART OF HOLOCAUST OUTREACH PROGRAMME

 

A seminar entitled “From Kristallnacht to Today:  How Do We Combat Hatred?” is to be held in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium next Thursday, 8 November, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  It is organized by the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme of the Department of Public Information.

It will feature speakers from civil society who will share best practices to overcome hatred, prejudice and intolerance in society.  Among other themes, they will address the responsibility of Governments in protecting the rights of their citizens, the role of regional and local actors, and the contribution that non-governmental organizations can make at the grassroots level.  Panellists will also present strategies to confront racist ideologies and fight hatred on the Internet.

Taking part in the seminar will be Federico Villegas Beltran, Director-General of Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Argentina; Christer Mattsson, The Living History Forum, Levande Historia, Sweden; Mark Weitzman, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, New York; Theary C. Seng, Director, Centre for Social Development, Cambodia; and Dr. Edward Kissi, Assistant Professor, University of South Florida.

Dr. Francis Deng, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities, will deliver an opening message on how hatred can lead to acts of mass violence.  Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, will initiate and moderate the discussion.

The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme, as mandated by General Assembly resolution 60/7, aims to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide.  Since its establishment, the Outreach Programme has developed an international network of civil society groups, collaborated with world-renowned institutions and gained the support of experts in the field of Holocaust and genocide studies.  The multifaceted Outreach Programme includes a film series, seminars, student briefings, discussion papers and innovative online information products.  More information on the Outreach Programme can be found at www.un.org/holocaustremembrance.

The seminar will be open to United Nations Member States, staff, members of the non-governmental organization community and other United Nations grounds pass holders.  The event will also be webcast on the United Nations website at www.un.org/webcast.  Inquiries about the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme should be addressed to:  Kimberly Mann, Chief of the Advocacy Unit, tel.:  212 963 6835 or mann@un.org.

For media accreditation for the event, please visit www.un.org/media/accreditation or contact Gary Fowlie, Chief, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, United Nations Department of Public Information, tel.:  212 963 6937, fax:  212 963 4642.

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For information media • not an official record