OSCE human rights office, Polish education ministry launch teaching materials on combating anti-Semitism
WARSAW, 5 March 2009 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Poland's Education Ministry today launched teaching materials on combating anti-Semitism, designed for use in Polish secondary schools.
"The commitment to confront anti-Semitism in a country is an important barometer for the general level of tolerance and openness towards diversity in society," said Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of ODIHR.
"Education about anti-Semitism means education against prejudice. It means education to promote the conditions necessary for a democratic and open-minded society. We therefore welcome the initiative of Poland, which is among the first countries in the OSCE region to develop materials to be used in schools to teach young people about the dangers of anti-Semitism."
The Polish-language materials were developed by ODIHR, together with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and Polish experts from the Polish-German Centre in Krakow, the Pedagogical University of Krakow and the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oswiecim.
They have been approved for use in secondary schools by the Polish Education Ministry, which also financially supported their publication.
The Polish teaching tools form part of an international project on combating anti-Semitism by educational means. ODIHR currently assists 10 OSCE participating States with developing customized country versions of the teaching materials.
Each country version covers the history and contemporary manifestations of anti-Semitism, and addresses anti-Semitism as a form of discrimination.
Following the launch, 20 professional teacher-trainers will attend a two-day training seminar, delivered by the Polish experts involved in developing the material. The seminar will be supported by the Polish Education Ministry and the National In-Service Teacher Training Centre.