Why did we establish the Center for Combating Anti-Semitism and Intolerance?

Antisemitism is a toxic force within any society and undermines democracy, as well as the respect for human and civil rights. It is our collective duty to stand against antisemitism—not only because, as members of modern European society, we have a historical responsibility to ensure the safety and equality of Jewish communities, but also because combating antisemitism means opposing prejudice, conspiracy theories, the distortion of history, extreme nationalism, and violence. These are the very forces that threaten the foundations of democracy and pluralism, jeopardizing the rights and freedoms of all individuals.

Miško Stanišić, president of the CBA Steering Board

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Grafit novi sad

Antisemitic graffiti on a billboard in Novi Sad in 2021. .

Towards a broad coalition

The Center for Combating Antisemitism and Intolerance was established in September 2022. Its goal is to create a broad coalition in the Republic of Serbia, bringing together state and independent institutions, non-governmental organizations, experts, decision-makers, local communities, and other stakeholders. This coalition will work in cooperation with relevant international experts and institutions to draft and implement a national strategy aimed at combating antisemitism in Serbia. Additionally, the Center will develop corresponding policies and activities to raise awareness and address all forms of antisemitism, xenophobia, and intolerance both in Serbian society and on an international level.

The Center for Combating Antisemitism and Intolerance is headquartered in Novi Sad.

Partners

The CBA welcomes cooperation with all organizations, institutions, and legal and natural persons dedicated to strengthening democracy and civil and human rights. We envision a society free from antisemitism and intolerance. If you’re interested in joining the CBA, please get in touch!

Terraforming initiated and founded the CBA. Haver Srbija and the Center for Applied History were the first to join the coalition.

Abc o antisemitizmu

Everything you need to know about contemporary antisemitism in one place! The first source of information of this kind in the Republic of Serbia, intended for professionals in the media, memory culture, and education: ABC o antisemitizmu.

Read more and download the handbook (Serbian)
Up2us

Focusing on three European capitals of culture – Novi Sad, Rijeka, and Timișoara, the UP2US project will map the capacities of key target groups to recognize and identify antisemitism. The project has received the prestigious Alfred Landecker Foundation Academic Research Grant and will be implemented by a consortium of partners from Serbia, Croatia, and Romania from 2024 to 2026.

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IHRA’s Definition of Antisemitism

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance IHRAs working definition of antisemitism is the most important and relevant guideline in countering and addressing antisemitism. It was adopted in 2016 by the IHRA member states, among which is the Republic of Serbia. Since then, the Definition has been adopted or endorsed by governmental bodies and international organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe , and others, as well as the parliaments and governments of various countries . Among them is the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which adopted the Working Definition of antisemitism on Feb 26, 2020 .

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EU strategy to combat antisemitism

EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life adopted Oct 5, 2021, is a series of measures that foresees targeted actions across three pillars: Preventing and combating all forms of antisemitism; Protecting and fostering Jewish life in the EU; and Education, research and Holocaust remembrance. The strategy will be implemented in 2021-2030. EU member states have undertaken to prepare and adopt national strategies to combat antisemitism. National strategies should be adopted by the end of 2022 and will be assessed by the Commission by the end of 2023. Various EU activities aimed at combating antisemitism are collected on this page.

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Factsheet about antisemitism

  • Nine out of ten Jews in Europe believe that antisemitism has increased in their countries.
  • 44% of young Jews in Europe have experienced antisemitic harassment and provocation.
  • 71% of European Jews avoid wearing symbols or otherwise publicly displaying anything that might identify them as Jewish.
  • One third (34%) of Jews in Europe avoid visiting Jewish events or sites because they do not feel safe.

More information can be found in the document “Factsheet on the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life” .

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Join the CBA and contribute to strengthening a society without hatred, intolerance, and discrimination! Members, partners, and participants in the CBA activities can be natural and legal persons who accept the Statute and the basic values on which the CBA’s mission and vision are based.

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Teaching Material for Combating Antisemitism

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The material was developed within the ODIHR and the Anne Frank Houseproject, which was implemented in Serbia by Terraforming 2016-2018, and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. The authors of the material are Dr. Milan Koljanin, Dr. Milovan Pisarri, Miško Stanišić and Aleksandar Todosijević.

The Teaching Material for Combating Antisemitism was created with the aim of enabling teachers and students, as well as other multiplyers and actors, to identify antisemitism and other forms of intolerance and discrimination, and to learn to counter them. The material was published with the support of the ODIHR program “From words into Action in Combating Antisemitism”.

More information and digital version of the material (PDF) for download are available at Terraforming’s website.