TORONTO (November 15, 2017) - In light of the upcoming election for chair of the Executive Board of UNESCO, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is launching a community-wide petition to call upon Canada and UNESCO to oppose Iran's bid for that key position.

"Given Iran's long history of human rights abuses, it cannot be allowed to take a lead role in that organization," said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. "We have already seen how the mission of UNESCO was distorted by attempts to ignore the inseparable Jewish link to the land of Israel and the Temple Mount. As the incoming Director General of UNESCO takes up her position, her stated commitment to renew the organization's pact of confidence with the world and with its member states can only be realized with a chair committed to further its mandate."

By launching a petition, FSWC hopes that community awareness and pressure will ensure that Iran is not allowed to take up a leadership position at UNESCO.

Please sign the petition at www.friendsofsimonwiesenthalcenter.com/petition.   

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To arrange an interview with Avi Benlolo, please contact:

Avital Borisovsky 
Communications Associate   
416.864.9735 x 29
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

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Follow us on Twitter at @CanadianFSWC for latest news and organization updates.

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It 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, 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. 

 Canadian Headquarters: Toronto       Branches: Los Angeles • New York • Chicago • Paris • Buenos Aires • Israel