(NEWS) Anti-Semitism & Free Speech Conference In Canadian Parliament This Weekend

"Stepping Up To Stop the Hate

Parliamentarians and Experts From Around the Globe Gear Up For 2010 Conference on Combating Antisemitism.

Parliamentarians and experts from over 40 countries are set to gather in Ottawa from November 7-9th to take part in the 2010 Conference on Combating Antisemitism. The conference, which is hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICCA) with sponsorship by the Government of Canada, is the largest of its kind. Over three days delegates will explore data and exchange best practices to learn about the most effective ways to combat antisemitism around the world.



'Unfortunately, antisemitism continues to be a problem both in Canada and internationally, with 2009 being judged as one of the worst years on record,' said British Member of Parliament John Mann, Chair of the British All-Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism and Co-Founder of the ICCA. 'The lessons learned and the actions that will be put in place from this year’s conference will help in the study and hopefully the eradication of all forms of racism.'

The 2010 conference in Ottawa follows the inaugural ICCA conference which was held in London, England in February 2009, where Canada sent the largest international delegation of Parliamentarians. This year the Parliamentarian conference is running in parallel with the Experts portion and features a mix of guest speakers, plenary sessions, and expert discussions. With an impressive list of Parliamentarians from six continents, such as Michael Danby (Australia), Nthabiseng Pauline Khunou (South Africa), Chris Smith (U.S.), and Ram Jethmalani (India), the conference is shaping up to be a key international discussion on antisemitism, all taking place on Canadian soil.

'Antisemitism is the oldest and more enduring of hatreds – ‘a lethal obsession’ as it has been called – which has caused untold catastrophes,' said Member of Parliament Hon. Irwin Cotler, Co-Founder and Chair of the ICCA. 'As it has been said ‘while it may begin with Jews, it doesn’t end with Jews.’ We ignore antisemitism at our peril.'

The conference represents the largest ever international parliamentary gathering on antisemitism. The recommendations made by participants during the Conference will be made available broadly and be used as the basis for further action to help put an end to the world’s oldest and most enduring form of discrimination.



'I applaud the efforts of the Parliamentary Centre, the ICCA and the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism to host this conference,' said Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney. 'By supporting this work, Canada continues to lead the worldwide struggle against antisemitism, a uniquely durable and pernicious form of hatred.'

About the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICCA)

The Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICCA) brings together some 46 countries and over 250 parliamentarians from around the world to lead the fight against resurgent global antisemitism. Its principal purpose is to share knowledge, experience, best practices, and recommendations, encouraging their dissemination in an attempt to deal more effectively with contemporary antisemitism. For more information on the ICCA, please visit www.antisem.org.

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For more information, please contact:
Matt Salvatore; Fleishman-Hillard Canada; matt.salvatore@fleishman.ca; 613-288-3272" (source)