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

Antisemitism is a poison in any society, incompatible with democracy and respect for human and civil rights. The task of all of us is to oppose antisemitism, not only because, as citizens of modern European society, we have a historical obligation to ensure safety and life without discrimination to the Jewish communities, but also because by countering antisemitism we oppose prejudice, conspiracy theories, falsification of history, extreme nationalism and violence – those forces that threaten the foundations of democracy and pluralism, thus endangering the rights and freedoms of us all.

Miško Stanišić, president of the CBA Steering Board

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. . The goal of the Center is to create a broad coalition in the Republic of Serbia where state and independent institutions, non-governmental organizations, experts, decision-makers, local communities and other actors, in cooperation with relevant international experts, institutions and bodies, will cooperate on drafting and implementing the national strategy to combat antisemitism in the Republic of Serbia, as well as other corresponding policies and concrete activities aimed at raising awareness and addressing all forms of antisemitism, xenophobia and intolerance in Serbian society and internationally.

The Center for Combating Antisemitism and Intolerance has its headquarters in Novi Sad.

Partners

Among the organizations that joined the CBA as partners are Terraforming, the initiator and founder of the CBA, as well as Haver Srbija and the Center for Applied History, which were the first to join. CBA is open to cooperation with all organizations, institutions, and legal and natural persons who are committed to strengthening democracy, and civil and human rights, and share our vision of a society without antisemitism and intolerance. If you wish to join CBA – contact us!

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 .

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 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 end of 2023. Various EU activities aimed at combating antisemitism are collected on this page.

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” .

Devin-avery-lhay4wmkjsk-unsplash - Antisemitizam

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, as well as the basic values on which the mission and vision of the CBA are based.

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Teaching Material for Combating Antisemitism

Find out more

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.

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

Towards a broad coalition

Partners

IHRA’s Definition of Antisemitism

EU strategy to combat antisemitism

Factsheet about antisemitism

Teaching Material for Combating Antisemitism

CENTAR ZA BORBU PROTIV ANTISEMITIZMA I NETOLERANCIJE (CBA)

Center for Combating Antisemitism and Intolerance