File #: Res 0399-2004    Version: * Name: Supporting the "Berlin Declaration"
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations
On agenda: 6/7/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution supporting the “Berlin Declaration,” a document summary of the second international conference on anti-Semitism recently held by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Sponsors: Michael C. Nelson, Lewis A. Fidler, Yvette D. Clarke, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Vincent J. Gentile, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Philip Reed, Jose M. Serrano, David I. Weprin, Robert Jackson, Letitia James, James F. Gennaro, Gale A. Brewer, James Sanders, Jr., Betsy Gotbaum
Council Member Sponsors: 16
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 9/23, 2. Committee Report 10/21, 3. Hearing Transcript 9/23, 4. Hearing Transcript 10/21, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 10/27/04

Res. No. 399

 

Resolution supporting the “Berlin Declaration,” a document summary of the second international conference on anti-Semitism recently held by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

 

By Council Members Nelson, Fidler, Clarke, Comrie, Gentile, Koppell, Liu, Reed, Serrano, Weprin, Jackson, James, Gennaro, Brewer, Sanders and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)

 

                     Whereas, The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (“OSCE”) is the largest regional security organization in the world, with 55 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America; and

Whereas, OSCE is active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, using an approach to security that is both comprehensive and co-operative; and

Whereas, OSCE held its second international conference on anti-Semitism in Vienna on June 19 and 20, 2004, which was attended by more than 150 delegates from OSCE participating States and over 100 non-governmental organizations; and

Whereas, The conference addressed anti-Semitism and its manifestations in Europe, Central Asia and North America, and the role that governments and civil society can take to promote greater tolerance; and

Whereas, At the conclusion of OSCE’s second international conference on anti-Semitism, its Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, read the conference’s “Berlin Declaration,” which is the organization’s accepted summary of the proceedings and which highlights the steps that member States agreed to take to combat anti-Semitism or other forms of religious or racial hatred; and

Whereas, According to the “Berlin Declaration,” among the steps that OSCE members committed to take was an endeavor to gather reliable information and statistics about anti-Semitic crimes, as well as other hate-crimes, and to report these findings to its members States and to the public through its Warsaw-based human rights watchdog, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights; and

Whereas, The “Berlin Declaration” contains other measures to help combat anti-Semitism and other forms of religious or racial hatred, such as the commitment by OSCE member States to strive to ensure that their legal systems foster a safe environment free from anti-Semitic harassment, violence or discrimination in all fields of life; and

Whereas, The “Berlin Declaration” also contains a commitment by member States to promote remembrance of and, as appropriate, education about the tragedy of the Holocaust and the importance of having respect for all ethnic and religious groups; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports the “Berlin Declaration,” a document summary of the second international conference on anti-Semitism recently held by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

 

 

LS#1077

RA - 6/2/2004

H:/word/resolutions/nelson/ls#1077