Today marks the launch of a new two-year project to tackle anti-Semitism in Europe through education. The project will be funded by the program Erasmus+ and will be implemented by UNESCO in collaboration with the Office of Democratic Institutions and of Human Rights (ODIHR).

After the launch of the project, UNESCO and its partners will work through tailor-made actions with the national authorities of the EU Member States to assist them as they develop the educational dimension of their national plans to combat anti-Semitism. At the time of launch, 11 countries have officially confirmed their participation. These are Austria, Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels), France, Germany (Baden-Württemberg and Schleswig-Holstein), Greece, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

The project is expected to deliver a range of outcomes, including lifelong learning events to be organized at national level for teacher educators, policy makers and civil society organisations, as well as thematic webinars for teacher educators from all states EU members. The aim is to support teachers and trainers to combat conspiracy theories and antisemitism in the classroom. The project will also contribute to the evaluation of national curricula and the quality of textbooks regarding anti-Semitism in Europe, as well as the current level of teacher preparedness, in order to then develop recommendations for policy makers at national and regional level.

Education can play an important role in making young people aware of prejudice, extremist narratives, conspiracy theories and ideologies that promote discrimination and hate. Erasmus+ includes among its main priorities the promotion of inclusion and diversity, thus contributing to social cohesion, strengthening European identity and promoting the values ​​of the European Union. This work also supports the educational dimension of the EU’s strategy to combat anti-Semitism and safeguard Jewish life.

Athena Papakosta