Holocaust studies lack human rights element, says EU
By DPA, IANSTuesday, January 26, 2010
WARSAW - Lessons about the Holocaust at schools across the European Union need to do a better job of making the connection to human rights, an EU rights agency said in a report released Tuesday.
The report is the first ever EU-wide survey on how historical sites and museums are used to teach about the Holocaust and human rights, and will be presented at conference in Auschwitz Wednesday, which is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights called on EU member states to better integrate human rights education into school curricula. It also said past and present human rights issues should be taught along with the Holocaust.
“Holocaust education should go beyond the mere transmission of historical facts,” the agency said.
The report will be presented at a Ministerial Conference in Auschwitz Wednesday, which is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“The findings of our report reveal the importance attached to Holocaust education,” Morten Kjaerum, the agency’s director, said.
“However, this is not sufficiently reflected in school curricula and links are not established between important historical events, like the Holocaust, and human rights.”
Education ministers from across the EU and Israel will meet as part of ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp, where Nazis killed some 1.1 million people, mostly Jews.
