Launch of civil society toolkit to counter online antisemitism

UNESCO, B’nai B’rith International and ISD launched the new resource Antisemitism Online: A Toolkit for Civil Society.

With online antisemitism and hate speech on the rise, policy responses from governments and social media platforms are struggling to keep pace with the evolving threat. ISD and B’nai B’rith International, in partnership with UNESCO, have developed a one-of-its-kind civil society toolkit to facilitate and consolidate the voice of Jewish organisations and allies in the face of this growing manifestation of hate.

The launch the toolkit brought together leading international experts on the shifting threat, senior policy makers driving government responses to the challenge, and civil society voices on best practices for addressing antisemitism online.

Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO and Daniel Mariaschin, CEO, B’nai B’rith International made the welcome remarks. 

The first part of the event, Understanding the online antisemitism threat, was introduced by Huberta von Voss, ISD Germany Executive Director. Speakers included Yfat Barak-Cheney, Director of International Affairs, World Jewish Congress; Dave Rich, Director of Policy, Community Security Trust; and Ariel Seidler, Director, ObservatorioWeb. 

The second part,  Emerging responses to online antisemitism and hate speech, was introduced by Alina Bricman, Director of EU Affairs, B’nai B’rith International. Speakers included, Sophie Elizeon, Interministerial Delegate for the Fight against Racism, Antisemitism and anti-LGBT Hatred, DILCRAH, France; Rachel Pollack, Associate Programme Specialist, Communications and Information, UNESCO; and Grégoire Borst, Professor of Developmental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience of Education and Director of the Laboratory of Child Development and Education Psychology.

The event was moderated by Karel Fracapane, Programme Specialist, UNESCO Section for Global Citizenship and Peace Education.