German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to address a
major international conference against antisemitism, it has been announced.
The conference will be co-hosted by the German
government in Berlin in March.
Mrs Merkel’s intention to speak about Jew hatred was
unveiled by Bundestag vice-president Petra Pau during a visit to London this
week.
The event will be co-ordinated by the
Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combatting Antisemitism (ICCA).
Ms Pau met Commons deputy speaker Natascha Engel MP
on Wednesday and said: “Germany, like all countries, is still not immune from
antisemitism and so we cannot underestimate the importance of working together
against this pernicious racism.”
The ICCA was co-founded by Labour MP John Mann, who
is chair of Britain’s All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism. It
held an inaugural conference in London in February 2009, leading to the London
Declaration on Combatting Antisemitism signed by hundreds of politicians from around
the world and a second conference in Ottawa, Canada.
The Berlin conference will include parliamentarians
discussing the methods for tackling Jew hatred which have been successful in
their countries, and co-ordinating plans to take home to their legislators.
Mr Mann said: “This is a significant step in our
efforts to ensure joined-up thinking from parliaments across the globe. The
internet and antisemitic-inspired terrorism are just two examples of worldwide
phenomenon which require an international response.
“I am also delighted Mrs Merkel has agreed to address
the conference. It shows that we have the attention and commitment of world
leaders to act and it puts perpetrators of antisemitism on notice that the
world is watching and will not stand idly by whilst anti-Jewish hatred is on
the rise.”
Ms Pau’s visit to London showed how seriously the
issue was being taken, Mr Mann said.
Justice Secretary Michael Gove will represent the
British government at the conference.
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