Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) President & CEO Available for Interviews

TORONTO (June 13, 2017) - Further to Statistics Canada's release of its 2015 hate crimes report – a compilation of police reports from across the country – hate crimes rose by 5% with 1,362 criminal incidents that were motivated by hate in Canada, 67 more than the previous year. Hate crimes targeting the Jewish population accounted for 13% of all hate crimes, followed closely by hate crimes targeting the Muslim population (12%).

FSWC believes most hate crimes are unreported, particularly as they are diffused throughout the community – particularly through social media and websites. Additionally, weak legislation and intent to prosecute has resulted in less charges being laid and a scale back from reporting. For a national landscape overview of current antisemitic incidents (2016-17) visit www.fswc.ca and click the "antisemitism" tab.

About Avi Benlolo - www.friendsofsimonwiesenthalcenter.com/leadership/avi-benlolo

To book an interview today or tomorrow with Avi Benlolo, please contact:

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

Atara Cadesky 
Communications Associate 
416.864.9735 x 30 
acadesky@fswc.ca

Followus on Twitter at @CanadianFSWC for latest news and organizationupdates.

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Friends of SimonWiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rightsfoundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed tocountering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles oftolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy andeducational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of HopeBenefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity.FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewishhuman rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won twoAcademy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built inJerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Councilof 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