TURNING WORDS INTO ACTION TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM | 页面 22

ANNEX

Seminar: Turning words into action to address anti-Semitism,
intolerance and discrimination
16-17 June 2016
European Parliament
Altiero Spinelli Building, Rue Wiertz 60
Brussels

Agenda

The OSCE’s Berlin+10 Conference on addressing anti-Semitism which took place in
November 2014, as well as previous civil society events organized at margins of OSCE
human dimension events, highlighted the need for broad, inclusive and diverse civil society
coalitions that support governments in their efforts to prevent and address hate crime and
discrimination. OSCE commitments also highlight the need for participating States to
support the development of civil society and constructively engage with them to end
intolerance and discrimination.
Hate crime and discrimination continues to assume new forms and expressions which, along
with other acts of intolerance, pose a threat to personal security and, therefore, to overall
security in the OSCE region and beyond.
Despite making repeated pledges to end hate crime and discrimination, many governments
have yet to introduce the necessary legislative tools, carry out official monitoring of
incidents or implement police training, educational, and community engagement programs
that would contribute to a more robust response to these human rights violations.
For this reason, civil society, as a key partner in the efforts to address discrimination and
intolerance, can play an important role to fill these gaps by pointing out the needed areas of
improvement in government responses. In the effort to reduce anti-Semitism, civil society
groups and organizations can play an indispensable role in raising awareness and, by using a
variety of measures, from monitoring and registration of incidents to advocacy efforts can
work with governments to ensure a more effective response by the authorities.
OSCE participating States have recognized that a robust civil society is invaluable in these
efforts. This is why there is an urgent need to help support and strengthen the existing good
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