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“What became the Shoah did not start with physical attacks. It began with hateful words, slander, conspiracy theories and anti-Jewish sentiment that had long existed in parts of Europe”
Message by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Youth and inter-cultural dialogue: building Europe based on common values, human dignity and mutual respect
On 15 December, youth representatives from different cultural and religious backgrounds were invited to the Council of Europe for a seminar entitled “Young people facing hate speech today: impact and solutions”. Samuel Lejoyeux, President of the Union des Etudiants Juifs de France (UEJF),...
Meeting with Fiona Bruce MP – the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief
I was honoured to meet the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) and her Deputy, David Burrowes, for a detailed exchange of views, facilitated by the UK Delegation to the Council of Europe. Fiona Bruce was nominated Special Envoy for FoRB at the end of 2020...
Meeting with Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany
Dr. Josef Schuster was elected President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany in 2014 and re-elected for another four years in 2018. He recently described the German federal elections as “an expression of living democracy” while warning that the fight against right-wing populism and...
Meeting with Ambassador Ismat Jahan, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
I was honoured to receive Ambassador Ismat Jahan, OIC Permanent Observer to the European Union for a courtesy visit at the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe has previously organised several study visits for the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission. In our meeting we discussed...
Combating Antisemitism: Government, Parliamentary, Civil Society and Business Responses
Together with the Delegation of Israel to international organisations in France, the Secretary General’s Special Representative is hosting a seminar in Paris on 8 November, entitled “Combating Antisemitism: Government, Parliamentary, Civil Society and Business Responses”. Keynote speakers include...
Dimension of “Living Together” and intercultural dialogue: the model of Judeo-Moroccan culture
I wish to thank colleagues from the European Cultural Routes secretariat in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Strasbourg for holding this symposium on Judeo-Moroccan culture. Morocco is an excellent example of how to protect Jewish heritage in a...
Pandemic Hate: COVID-related Antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred on Social Media
The Council of Europe’s Special Representative on religious intolerance and hate crimes, Daniel Höltgen, will take part in the launch of a new report on COVID-related antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred on social media in Brussels on Monday 18 October. The report has been compiled by the...
Secretary General at Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is taking part in the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism on 13 October 2021. She is making a speech and is taking part in the panel entitled “Countering contemporary antisemitism and other forms of racism online...
Pillars of Modern Age Europe – Coexistence of Religious Communities, Debrecen 13-15 October
The Secretary General’s Special Representative on antisemitic, anti-Muslim and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes will be participating in the international Conference, Pillars of Modern Age Europe – Coexistence of Religious Communities from 13 to 15 October and will be making...
Council of Europe invited by Ukraine to attend 80th anniversary Commemoration of the Babyn Yar
By invitation of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, I was honoured to represent the Council of Europe, on 6 October, at the 80th anniversary Commemoration of the Babyn Yar Massacre. Marking 80 years since the Babyn Yar massacre in Kyiv, Ukraine, on September 29-30, 1941, speeches were held by...
Athens Democracy Forum
For the second year in a row the Council of Europe was actively participating in the Athens Democracy Forum 29 September - 1 October. Communications’ Director Daniel Höltgen was moderating a panel on combating racism and hate speech and Marja Ruotanen, Director of Human Dignity and Equality,...
The Council of Europe stands united in the fight against antisemitism.
On 23 September the Ministers’ Deputies held an informal meeting under the Hungarian Presidency on “Combating and preventing antisemitism in Europe: challenges and perspectives” with guest speakers: Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Chief Rabbi of Moscow and President of the Conference of European...
Online hate speech is a growing and dangerous trend
Initial results of a consultation of Muslim organisations Vorläufige Ergebnisse einer Befragung muslimischer Verbände in Europa
Commemoration of 80 years since the Pogrom of Iasi, Romania
Address to the commemoration and international conference on the Pogrom of Iasi, Romania, 28-30 June 2021
Recent escalation of antisemitic attacks needs Europe-wide response
The recent escalation of antisemitic attacks requires a Europe-wide response. Governments should join forces to prevent new waves of antisemitism by countering hate speech on the Internet and supporting education about the Holocaust and human rights. Article published in European media English...
Publication of Austria's "Islam map" is hostile to Muslims and potentially counterproductive
"Countering extremism and dangerous ideologies is one of the most important tasks of national security today. It is therefore only consistent to take action against the spread of dangerous narratives under the guise of freedom of religion. Unfortunately, the "Islam Map" of Austria overshoots the...
Meeting with Sophie Elizéon, Inter-ministerial Co‑ordinator on combating racism, antisemitism and anti-LGBT hatred (DILCRAH, France)
On 30 April, I had a meeting in Strasbourg with Sophie Elizéon, France’s new Inter-ministerial Co‑ordinator on combating racism, antisemitism and anti-LGBT hatred, and Laurence Villette-Richard, DILCRAH adviser on justice and international relations. Following the exchange of views I held with...
The Muslim Council of Britain: Young people facing hate speech online are most vulnerable
In my online meeting with Zara Mohammed, the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, we discussed common areas of concern and future cooperation. Secretary General Zara Mohammed emphasized that young people are particularly vulnerable to anti-Muslim hate speech on the Internet. She...
Forthcoming PACE report on Combating anti-Semitism in Europe
The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly is preparing a report on combating anti-Semitism in Europe. Austrian Member of Parliament, Petra Bayr was nominated rapporteur for the report. In the context of her consultations, I had a very...
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