Youth voices are crucial for a complete representation of the Jewish community and its perceptions of antisemitism. The upcoming FRA Survey that aims to uncover precisely these perceptions is an important tool to help European Institutions to take action!
The 2013 FRA survey of Jewish people’s experiences and perceptions of discrimination and hate crime in European Union Member States was a stepping stone in today’s efforts of the European Commission to combat antisemitism. 5 years after the first survey, the second such survey will serve as a barometer of how far we’ve come since. One of the main shortcomings of the first survey, was a lack of youth participation – and this is what we have tackled now!
Together with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the Jewish Policy Research Institute and the European Commission Office for Combating Antisemitism, we brought together an outstanding group of young Jewish activists from 13 different European countries to train them on the ins and outs of the Survey and how it can be disseminated.
Aside from the in-depth training received from JPR, we learned about the European Commission’s ongoing efforts on combating antisemitism from Katharina von Schnurbein and Johannes Börmann- EC Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism; we got a glimpse into the Fundamental Rights Agency anti-discrimination work from Vida Beresneviciute and met with Brussels-based Jewish advocacy organizations. A big thank you to the European Jewish Congress, B’nai B’rith International and B’nai B’rith Europe for meeting with our group! A big thank you to Moishe House that never fails to host our best ever dinners with unlimited bonding, vegetarian food and fun!
