Yad Vashem and the Council of Europe have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote Holocaust education throughout the council’s 47 member states.

The agreement between the council, an international organization promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation, and Yad Vashem, was signed on Wednesday at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem by Avner Shalev, chairman of Yad Vashem and Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe.

The memorandum formalizes an ad-hoc relationship over the last 15 years, and encourages new programs to enhance cooperation in the future. Among the items included are exploring the organization of a Holocaust education policy forum at Yad Vashem for educational policy makers, and fostering and developing cooperative relationships between member states and Yad Vashem, particularly those states that do not yet have a relationship with Yad Vashem.

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“This agreement denotes willingness to deepen and enhance Holocaust education in Europe, and to encourage teacher training and to reconstitute historical awareness. I am pleased that the Council of Europe sees the International School for Holocaust Studies of Yad Vashem as the most appropriate professional body to lead this process,” Avner said

The International School for Holocaust Studies of Yad Vashem currently conducts some 70 seminars annually for educators from abroad, and produces material in 20 languages.

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