Note to Correspondents

Department of Public Information, New York Tolerance Center to jointly host

film series on Holocaust, prevention of genocide

First in Series to Be Screened on 25 April, 6 p.m. , at New York Tolerance Center

The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) and the New York Tolerance Center will jointly launch a film series on 25 April 2006 (Yom Hashoah) in connection with the Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme.  The film series will provide a forum for discussion by Member States and civil society partners on the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.  Raymond Sommereyns, Director of the Outreach Division, DPI, and Mark Weitzman, Director of the New York Tolerance Center, will make opening remarks.

The first screening is scheduled for 25 April at 6 p.m. in the Tolerance Center ( 226 East 42nd Street, New York) and will feature the film “Sophie Scholl:  The Final Days”.  The film is about the last six days in the life of Sophie Scholl who is caught by the Gestapo as a member of the German Nazi-resistance group, the White Rose, and is executed for “high treason” by the Nazis.  The film won the prestigious Silver Bear award at the Berlin Film festival last year.  As co-sponsor of this screening, Hans-Juergen Heimsoeth, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany based in New York, will also make a brief statement.

The Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme, as mandated by General Assembly resolution 60/7, aims to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide.  The film series is being organized as part of that effort.  More information on the outreach programme can be found at www.un.org/holocaustremembrance.

The New York Tolerance Center, an east-coast educational arm for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, is a professional development multimedia training facility that provides educators, law enforcement officials and government practitioners with interactive, experiential workshops, exhibits, and videos to explore the issues of prejudice, diversity, tolerance and cooperation in the community.  The Simon Wiesenthal Center, associated with DPI and the Economic and Social Council, works closely with several United Nations offices in these areas.  For more information, please visit www.toolsfortolerance.com.

As space for the screening is limited, please reserve your tickets by sending an e-mail message with your name and telephone number to holocaustremembrance@un.org.

* *** *