28 January 2008. Kyiv, Ukraine. The public discussion "Memory of the Holocaust and Ukrainian Society: Educational Perspective" was conducted on 28 January 2008 in Kyiv on observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Aimed at encouraging discussion on Holocaust education and remembrance in Ukraine, the event was organized by the UN in Ukraine in partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies.
Among the participants of this discussion were UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O'DONNELL, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine Zina KALAY-KLEITMAN, Special Ambassador on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleksandr GORIN, Director of the Philosophy Institute of the National Academy of Ukraine academician Myroslav POPOVYCH, Director of the Holocaust Study Centre in Ukraine Anatloiy PODOLSKY as well as over 70 teachers, scientists, civil society activists and researchers, governmental authorities and international community representatives and journalists.
According to the United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7, January 27 has been designated as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. To prevent future acts of genocide, the resolution requests Members States to develop educational programmes on the lessons of the Holocaust and to support efforts in mobilizing civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education. Addressing the international community, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called in his message to this Day to apply the lessons of the Holocaust to our lives, and to those of succeeding generations.
Opening the event UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O'DONNELL stated that the Holocaust resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people along with countless members of other minorities including Roma, handicapped, and religious leaders. Quoting the UN Resolution, he emphasized "The Holocaust will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, racism and prejudice."
The Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research was established to place political and social leaders' support behind the need for Holocaust remembrance. "Currently, 25 countries are members of the Task Force. And we hope the Ukrainian Government will join the Task Force to foster Holocaust lessons remembrance and education nationally and internationally", stated Francis O'DONNELL.
Director of the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies Anatoliy PODOLSKY reminded to the participants that about 6 million Jews of Europe were perished in 27 countries including 1.5 million of the Ukrainian Jews. Anatoliy PODOLSKIY emphasized "The total extermination of Jewry during the Nazi rule in Ukraine must be considered not just as a part of Jewish history but also as an integral part of the history of Ukraine, and that is why this tragedy must be studied and commemorated in Ukrainian society".
During this one-day discussion, the participants exchanged opinions on the methodology of Holocaust teaching in the Ukrainian schools and Universities, as well as informal opportunities for teachers. At the final session, the recommendations for the governmental and civil society stakeholders were developed to foster Holocaust remembrance and teaching in Ukraine.
Photo report from the round table discussion "Memory of the Holocaust and the Ukrainian Society:Educational Perspective".
Photo (left to right): Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine H.E. Zina KALAY-KLEITMAN, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine H.E. Francis M. O'DONNELL, Director of the Ukrainian Holocaust Study Centre Dr. Anatoliy PODOLSKY. Photo by Vadim Berest, UN DPI/Ukraine.
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Contacts for media:
UN Communications Officer in Ukraine Mrs. Veronika VASHCHENKO, at
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, 044.253.93.63.
More information on UN and the Holocaust outreach programme at http://www.un.org/holocaustremembrance/.
Note for Editors:
On November 1, 2005, the 191 members of the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution 60/7 designating 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. 27 January was chosen to be the International Holocaust Remembrance Day as it marks the day on which the largest Nazi death camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland) was liberated by the Soviet army in 1945.
Initiated by Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson in 1998, the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research was established to place political and social leaders' support behind the need for Holocaust remembrance. Currently, 25 countries are member of the Task Force: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
28.01.08
