Panelists (from the left): Prof. I. Vėstaitė reads the presentation, Mr. R. Račinskas, Executive Director of the International Historical Commission, Ms. H. Rozenthal,
U.S. State Department‘s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Seimas, Mr. E. Zingeris, Prof. Š. Liekis.

16 November 2011, Vilnius
The Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum

 “To practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another, as good neighbours” - this common goal of the peoples of the world is set out in the Preamble to the United Nations Charter.

The peoples of the world who suffered losses of the Second World War and the horror of the Holocaust have developed the framework of the international law, international and national state institutions and nongovernmental organizations to overcome anti-Semitism, xenophobia and other forms of racial discrimination, aiming to protect human rights and freedoms, so that peoples and states would live in peace harmony, ensuring the progress of mankind.

However, new challenges arise in the 21st century. Even countries with old democratic traditions have failed to prevent the recurrence of old conflicts on the grounds of ethnic, religious, social hatred or unexpected attacks by extremists.

The global economic crisis that increases the threats of radicalism and extremism is a serious challenge for democracy and tolerance. Moreover, the newest technology not only reduces the isolation of members of international community and various ethnic and social groups, provides greater freedom for cultural dialogue and exchange of information, but also sometimes serves as a tool for instigators of discord. Thus, the mission announced by the United Nations is still incomplete and requires efforts of many people of good-will.

Mrs. Irena Balčiūnienė, translator, initiator of the event,
witness of the Helsinki group‘s history (on the right).

On the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance, Vilnius will hosted a conference as part of the governmental programme of the commemorative events of the Holocaust Memorial Year in Lithuania. Participants of the conference were invited to share their experiences and insights when discussing tolerance situation in today’s world, background of anti-Semitism, xenophobia and other forms of hatred, and how to overcome their manifestations in the new geopolitical, social and media context.

The conference also marked the 35th anniversary of activities of the Helsinki Group.

On the basis of the rights and freedoms set out in the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, dissidents of the Soviet Union formed a group in 1976 that aimed to encourage the society to oppose the totalitarian regime that was accompanied by all the forms of anti-Semitism and discrimination. The group defended democratic values, struggled for a variety of opinion, the freedom of expression, religion and other fundamental human rights and freedoms.

International conference
“Tolerance and Totalitarianism. Challenges to Freedom”

Among the founders of the Lithuanian Public Group for Furthering the Implementation of the Helsinki Agreements there were Rev. Karolis Garuckas, a Catholic priest, Eitan Finkelstein, Ph.D. (Physics), Ona Lukauskaitė Poškienė, poet and former prisoner, Viktoras Petkus, former political prisoner, and poet, translator Tomas Venclova.  

Organizers: The Office of the Prime Minister of Lithuania, the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Participants: representatives from Lithuanian and foreign academic and creative communities, ethnic and religious communities and organizations, the makers and executors of policy, the diplomatic corps, media and civil society representatives who take interest in freedom and democracy, respect for human rights and freedoms, and the values of tolerance ​in the modern world, as well as in historical past.