September 20, 2011
Lawmakers from around the world gather at Babi Yar
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Monument to the murdered ones during the German ocupation of Ukraine during the Second World War, Babi Yar, Kiev. Photo by Roland Geider
International parliamentarians from Europe, Israel, Turkey and other nations gathered at the site of the Babi Yar massacre in Ukraine.
The lawmakers marked the 70th anniversary of the massacre of more than 33,000 Jews by the Nazis over the course of two days in September 1941 as part of the International Consultation of Parliamentarians, which brings together lawmakers from around the world to work to counter the hatred of Jews, especially in the countries of the former Soviet Union.
“There continues to be a troubling rise in global acts of anti-Semitism in recent years, with a growing number of Jewish communities forced to live under the almost constant threat of violence and unrest,” said Oleksandr Feldman, a Ukrainian lawmaker and president of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, who spearheaded the meeting.
“This Consultation brings together international lawmakers and provides the opportunity to maintain a united front, display a common commitment to fight anti-Semitism and develop effective counter-strategies.”
Participants in the Consultation met with the leadership of the Ukrainian parliament, Ukrainian lawmakers and top government officials, and worked with the local Jewish community.
Along with Israel and Turkey, lawmakers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and the United Kingdom were represented.
