New York, NY, September 29, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on participating states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to step up action against anti-Semitism and intolerance at the organization's Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw, Poland.

"Governments have come a long way in recognizing the problem and taking on new commitments," said Stacy Burdett, ADL Associate Director of Government Affairs.  "But the broad lack of implementation and the continuation of anti-Semitic and other hate violence demonstrate that meaningful progress will depend on ongoing attention and effort.  OSCE must sustain a focus on anti-Semitism and intolerance and institutionalize their efforts to help states put these recommendations into action."

ADL urged the OSCE participating states to:

• Support the reappointment of the three Personal Representatives on combating anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and discrimination against Muslims and ensure they have both the capacity and resources to be effective;

• Support future follow up meetings at both the senior political, and expert levels;

• Fulfill commitments to monitor and report on anti-Semitic and other hate crime and;

• Adopt hate crime laws and implement tolerance education programs.

ADL addressed a side event on tolerance education to share ADL's experience adapting its A Classroom of Difference™ and Peer Training programs for use in OSCE states.  As the American member of the International Network Against Cyberhate (INACH), ADL addressed the plenary on behalf of INACH and proposed recommendations for action against online hate.

The Warsaw conference, Europe's largest human rights gathering, reviewed the outcome of this year's OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance in Cordoba, Spain.  The 55 OSCE participating states include the nations of Europe and Eurasia, the United States and Canada.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.