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International Conference on Genocide Prevention Israel - From Local Commemoration to Global Integration


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October 24, 2009 -- Hosted by the Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy, the International Conference on Genocide Prevention Israel - From Local Commemoration to Global Integration, is taking place at Tel Aviv University from 17-18 November 2009.

The major aim of the conference is to connect local Israeli efforts and issues of concern to the global research and initiatives current in the prevention of genocide. The two-day conference will include keynote speakers and panel discussions with academics and genocide experts from around the world as well as activism workshops on how one can make a difference. Holocaust survivors will form a support network with Darfuri survivors Films, exhibitions, music and artistic performances will accompany the conference .

Key international speakers include Dr James Smith, CEO of the Aegis Trust England, Dr Hedi Fried, Swedish Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor, and Michael Pertnoy, A young American filmmaker who will be presenting his work at the cinemateque on the evening of the 17th of November. Bruno Stevens A renowned Belgian photographer will exhibit his work of photographs from Darfur. Local speakers include Professor Yehuda Bauer and Itai Anghel, both active in countering genocide in our time.

James Smith , Director of the Aegis Trust for genocide prevention is responsible for both the UK Holocaust Centre and the Kigali Memorial Centre, which has become the national focus for remembrance and education about the genocide in Rwanda. "Being able to bring people closer together who have suffered genocide is highly significant," says Smith, "Sometimes, the further away events are, the less importance we attach to them. However, being able to talk to someone live in Rwanda [and Darfur] and ask them about the experience they went through in the genocide reinforces that mass murder of groups of people can happen anywhere, to anyone, and we all need to play a role in ensuring it never happens again."

As a campaigner for Darfur in the UK, Dr Smith contrasted England's lack of assistance for Darfuri refugees today to its better though limited response to Jewish refugees after Kristallnacht, "If in November 1938, after Kristallnacht, there had been a much greater response on British and American Streets to this, it might have influenced how the Nazis proceeded. We did respond in a way - 10,000 children were given refuge in the UK. Where are the 10,000 Darfuris in the UK?

The conference also launches an initiative to introduce genocide into the educational curriculum in Israel. Currently Holocaust is being taught without any universal message. An education committee has put together a policy paper that will be presented to Education Ministry officials.

For more information on the conference, contact Courage to Care, info@couragetocare.org.il. 

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