On 30 January, within the framework of the campaign of the UN web site Cyberschoolbus "Ask the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon," United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Tunis invited a group of students to the headquarters of the national organization of Tunisian students.  The Centre’s official, Amor Nekhili, explained the purpose of "Ask the Secretary-General" and invited them to submit their questions about the activities of the United Nations and the role of the Secretary-General.  The students addressed various subjects such as women's rights, the situation in the Middle East and the function and the mandate of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.  The answers of the Secretary-General to the selected questions will be posted on the Cyberschoolbus website and the UNIC's website. 

As part of the Holocaust Remembrance Day celebration, on 28 January United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Antananarivo organized a video conference at the UN Common House with the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris. Among the guest speakers were a survivor of Auschwitz, a historian and a representative of the Mémorial of la Shoah organization. 

Approximately 40 people attended this meeting. Among these were students from various colleges and universities in the capital, representatives of the youth network for the MDGs, representatives of the media network for the MDGs, historians, an expert on human rights and teachers. 

The expert panel discussed the experience of the Holocaust and highlighted the importance of teaching tolerance, respect for human rights and the principles of democracy.

Fifty high school teachers participated in a workshop about the Holocaust and the prevention of genocide that was organized by United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Brazzaville on the occasion of International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. The workshop was held on 28 January.

The workshop aimed to enhance the ability of the teachers to educate their students on the causes and consequences of genocide, on ways to prevent genocide, and on how to fight against racism, intolerance and exclusion.

The participants heard two presentations, one entitled "Genocides in the 20th Century" and the other entitled "The unique characteristics of the Shoah."  They also watched a screening of a documentary called " Les Justes."

This session on the Holocaust and prevention of genocide was the first one of its kind to be organized in the Republic of the Congo.

A public discussion called "The Memory of the Holocaust and Ukrainian Society: Educational Perspective" was conducted on 28 January 2008 in Kyiv on observance of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.  Aimed at encouraging discussion on Holocaust education and remembrance in Ukraine, the event was organized by the UN in Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies.

Among the participants of this discussion were UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O'Donnell, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine Zina Kalay-Kleitman, Special Ambassador on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleksandr Gorin, Director of the Philosophy Institute of the National Academy of Ukraine academician Myroslav Popovych, Director of the Holocaust Study Centre in Ukraine Anatloiy Podolsky as well as over 70 teachers, scientists, civil society activists and researchers, governmental authorities and international community representatives and journalists.

During this one-day discussion, the participants exchanged opinions on the methodology of Holocaust teaching in the Ukrainian schools and universities, as well as informal opportunities for teachers.  At the final session, the recommendations for the governmental and civil society stakeholders were developed to foster Holocaust remembrance and teaching in Ukraine.  Please read the full story at http://www.un.org.ua/en/news/2008-01-27/