International Initiative European Week of Tolerance

November 9-16, 2008

European Week of Tolerance is a set of events and special meetings initiated by leading European political and public organisations to help prevent violations of human rights and to fight xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance on the European continent.

On November 9–16, 2008, the ECTR was among initiators and organisers of a series of events held as part of the European Week of Tolerance on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of die Kristallnacht and International Day for Tolerance. In the course of official events the ECTR presented a draft European Framework Convention on Promoting Tolerance and Combating Intolerance and the Concept for a White Paper on Tolerance to the European Parliament. Both of these innovative conventions have great significance for promoting tolerance in Europe.

The European Week of Tolerance events:

1. Special memorial service on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of die Kristallnacht (Great Synagogue of Europe, Brussels, November 9, 2008);

2. Special event on promoting tolerance throughout the European Continent (European Parliament, Brussels, November 10, 2008);

3. Diplomatic dinner and Medal of Tolerance awards ceremony (Brussels, November 10, 2008);

4. Conference of European Rabbis convention (Prague, November 11, 2008);

5. Memorial event commemorating the 70th anniversary of die Kristallnacht (Kaliningrad, November 16, 2008).

The European Week of Tolerance was co-organised by the ECTR, the European Jewish Congress, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Russian Jewish Congress, the World Holocaust Forum Foundation and the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority Yad Vashem.

Website - toleranceday.eu