Toronto - Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies welcomed a European Union resolution that seeks to strengthen Europe's resolve to combat anti-semitism. The new EU resolution states, "The recent rise in anti-Semitism across the EU requires more and stronger action" and focuses primarily on encouraging four areas:

• Call for more effective prosecution and cross-border cooperation
• EU countries asked to appoint national coordinators to combat anti-Semitism
• Holocaust history should be taught in schools
• Leading politicians urged to denounce any anti-Semitic statement

"Most significantly, the European Union is requesting European nations adopt the working definition of anti-semitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance" said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. "This definition is quickly becoming one of the most accepted worldwide for its understanding of traditional forms of antisemitism and current, politicized and nuanced forms of antisemitism connected to national identity".

As significantly, the EU resolution strongly encourages greater attention of law enforcement in the arena of laying hate crime charges: "Police forces should set up special anti-hate crime units, and to make prosecution more efficient and effective...". In reference to civil society, the resolution calls "Online intermediaries, such as search engines, social media, and app platforms, should take stronger action to combat anti-Semitic hate speech...".

FSWC calls on Canada, an active partner in IHRA, to accept the EU's resolution and adopt the working definition of anti-semitism into its lexicon. "The sooner this happens and action is undertaken, the sooner we can eliminate antisemitism in Canada" Benlolo said.

References: EU Statement - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20170529IPR76235/rise-in-anti-semitism-demands-stronger-action-urge-meps

IHRA Definition of Antisemitism: https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/sites/default/files/press_release_document_antisemitism.pdf

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada’s organized Jewish community.  It is the winner of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Best Practices Award. FSWC directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally.  FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Compassion to Action, Speakers Idol, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca.