24 January 2006
On 27th January 2006, Holocaust day, a commemorative event for the victims of the Holocaust will take place at Egmont Palace in Brussels, at 14.30.
Belgium holds the chairmanship of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) in 2006 and this event is part of the Organization's efforts to promote tolerance and non-discrimination. At the event, the "Guidelines on preparing Holocaust Memorial Days for Educators" will be launched. The guidelines are a joint project of OSCE/ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) and Yad Vashem (The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority - Israel). Established in 1953, Yad Vashem is dedicated to Holocaust commemoration, documentation, research and education.
The OSCE/ Yad Vashem guidelines are designed to help educators prepare activities and projects in connection with Holocaust Memorial Days to meaningfully impart the memory of the Holocaust to future generations. The guidelines are currently available in four languages (English, Russian, French, Flemish).
Belgium recently became a full member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. This membership will improve work in the areas of Holocaust education, remembrance and research by extending cooperation and boosting exchanges of experience at international level. Belgium's participation in the 24 member state Task Force will be based on a combined effort between the Federal and Community authorities who took a joint decision to apply for membership.
Program of the ceremony:
14.30 - welcome by Ambassador Jan Deboutte, Belgian representative to the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research
14.45 - speech of the Special Envoy of the Belgian OSCE Chairmanship,M. Pierre Chevalier
15.00 - speech of Mr. Nathan Ramet, founder of the Mechelen Museum of Deportation and Resistance
15.15 - commemorative moment / music
15.30 - speech of Ambassador Strohal, ODIHR-director (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights)
15.45 - speech of Dr. Motti Shalem, Head, International School for Holocaust Studies, Yad Vashem
16.00 - end of the event
Journalists are invited to cover the whole ceremony.
Press RDV : 14.15, Egmont palace, Petit Sablon, 1000 Brussels.
Journalists must be accredited. Registration must be completed before 12.00 Thursday 26 January 2006 by e-mail at presse@diplobel.fed.be
Please mention first name, second name, media, mobile telephone number, BELGIAN or EUROPEAN COMMISSION press card nr.
