VIENNA (EJP)--- Dozens of Austrian school children will be given a unique lesson in the history of the Holocaust on Monday when they participate in a video-link up with a group of survivors.

The event, organised by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency with Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust authority, aims to emphasise the role of education in combating anti-Semitism and racial hatred. It will take
place on Yom Hashoah - Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Sitting at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, the survivors will
recount their experiences during WWII and give the children the
opportunity to ask questions about what happened.

Beate Winkler, interim director of the Vienna-based European Agency on Fundamental Rights (FRA) said she believes education is key to preventing a repeat of the Holocaust, where some six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis.

"The lessons of the Shoah (Holocaust) remain relevant today and for
future generations," Winkler said.

"Education against racial hatred and intolerance and for mutual respect is crucial to avoid a repeat of this break in civilisation. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and opinion makers. It is therefore vital that they understand fully what the Shoah means and how that experience can help shape a more tolerant
society. One in which respect for diversity and protection of
minorities is an integral part of our democracies."

Pass on the lessons

Yom Hashoah U’Mered HaGetaot (Holocaust and Ghetto Revolt Remembrance Day) was inaugurated by the Israeli parliament on April 12, 1951, just three years after the establishment of the State of Israel.

Each year it has been held on the 27th of the Jewish month of Nissan which usually occurs towards the end of April. The name later became known as Yom Hashoah Ve Hagevurah (Devastation and Heroism Day), and later simplified to Yom Hashoah.

Winkler spoke of the importance she sees in this week’s
initiative."Only in remembering and learning from the past can we hope to secure the future. We must learn and pass on these wider lessons
about the dangers of racism and about stereotyping people on the basis of ethnic origin, race or religion," she said.

"Schools can teach against the evils of anti-Semitism to ensure that
never again can it gain a foothold. There are a variety of educational
initiatives and tools available which provide valuable support to
teachers and educationalists. These require wider distribution and use across the EU. I believe that FRA can play a role in drawing greater
attention to them."

Importance of politics

Winkler concluded: "In order to combat anti-Semitism and racism we
need a very strong and clear political leadership. Therefore, I
welcome the proposed EU Framework Decision on Combating Racism and Xenophobia, which draws also attention to the transnational dimension of racist acts and the corresponding need for a response at European level.

"This proposed EU legislation would ensure that, throughout the
European Union, racist and xenophobic acts are punishable by
effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal penalties. FRA calls
on EU governments to adopt this proposed EU legislation, which would make illegal, among others, public incitement to racist violence and
hatred."