Following the devastating Hamas terror attacks on October 7th, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Permanent Representation of the European Union to UNESCO, organized a high-level panel discussion last Thursday discussing education's contribution in mitigating high levels of antisemitism and hate. This marked the first initiative by an international organization since the onset of the Middle East crisis to address the escalating global issue of antisemitism.
The event, entitled “Never again is now: Harnessing the power of education to address the surge of antisemitism,” was organized around UNESCO’s General Conference, its main annual meeting. It featured opening addresses by the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay and the European Commission’s Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein. Several Ambassadors and other dignitaries attended the event.
Experts from academia, education, civil society, and international organizations engaged in discussions about recent developments' impact on Jewish communities worldwide, the threats faced by students, the crucial role of educators, and effective educational strategies to combat antisemitism in all its forms.
Dr. Leon Saltiel, Director of Diplomacy at the World Jewish Congress and its Representative to UNESCO, addressed the audience, expressing gratitude to governments that condemned the rise of antisemitism. He emphasized the importance of solidarity with Jewish communities, called for the safeguarding of Jewish life, and urged intensified efforts to prevent the dissemination of the hateful ideologies unleashed on October 7, preventing them from poisoning our societies.
