Last update - 00:00 23/10/2007
UNESCO announces plan to battle Holocaust denial, raise awareness
By Barak Ravid
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Tuesday it would launch a program to promote awareness of the Holocaust by means of battling every form of Holocaust denial and formulating educational curriculums.
Over recent months, extensive political efforts have been made to recruit international support for the program, initiated by Israel. With the aid of the U.S., Russia, Australia and Canada, Israel successfully garnered the support of an additional 70 countries for the program.
UNESCO unanimously adopted the initiative, despite initial concerns that Arab nations would attempt to torpedo the move.
Under the guidelines of the new program, UNESCO will now be able to prepare educational and instructional curriculums on Holocaust remembrance, and promote the incorporation of such studies in core curriculums, conferences and research worldwide. These activities will be carried out in tandem with the Holocaust remembrance programs currently being developed at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
In addition, a permanent exhibit on the Holocaust is set to open at the UN headquarters in New York, to be displayed along the path taken by tourists and visitors on guided tours of the building. The exhibit, a result of extensive efforts made by Israel's Foreign Ministry, aims to balance out the permanent exhibit on Palestinian refugees, also displayed on site.
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