Importance of dialogue discussed at OSCE’s annual conference on addressing anti-Semitism
The annual OSCE Conference on addressing anti-Semitism opened today, February 10, in Helsinki. The conference is part of the OSCE's work on combating intolerance. In addition to anti-Semitism, the conference touches upon discrimination faced by Muslims, Christians and representatives of other religions.
“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. As the living memory of the Holocaust fades, we have a profound responsibility to commemorate the victims of this atrocity and to understand its ongoing meaning and consequences,“ the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen noted in her opening speech.
“We must all do our part and strive to build tolerant, open, and inclusive societies, ensuring that everyone, especially the younger generation, can look forward to a future free from hatred.”
The conference discusses, among other things, experiences of intolerance based on religion, the impact of technology and the importance of education and interfaith dialogue in the work against discrimination.
“The unspeakable atrocity of the Holocaust was the result of an ideology, an ancient hatred built on exclusion, marginalization, and the devaluation of human life,” emphasized Maria Telalian, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). “But through awareness raising and interfaith dialogue, we are planting the seeds of understanding and empathy, challenging the myths and stereotypes that have fuelled anti-Semitic hatred for far too long.” The director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Maria Telalian stated in the opening session.
“Participating States and international organizations including the OSCE have made considerable progress in the past two decades in addressing a resurgent anti-Semitism, with the drafting of national strategies, appointment of coordinators, more intensive monitoring of hate crimes and data collection, new educational initiatives, and enhanced security for synagogues and other communal centers. And yet, Jews throughout the OSCE region consider anti-Semitism today to be such a real threat that it has altered the way they live their lives. This conference will be an opportunity to look carefully at what we are doing and what we must do better in order to reverse this trend,” the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism, Rabbi Andrew Baker noted.
Experts from different areas of society, e.g. representatives of participating States and civil society were invited to take part in the discussions. The conference is part of the official program of Finland's OSCE Chairpersonship. Finland is the chair of the European Security and Cooperation Organization OSCE for the calendar year 2025.