ODVV Statement on Seventh session of the Forum on Minority Issues Organization For Defending Victims Of Violence http://www.odvv.org/page-94-ODVV-Statement-on-Seventh-session-of-the-Forum-on-Minority-Iss ues ODVV Statement on Seventh session of the Forum on Minority Issues Responding to Violence and Atrocity Crimes: The Role of EducationEssentially atrocity crimes are born of bigotry and hatred. Hate crimes can take different forms, ranging from the attack of innocent civilians and beating them to death solely on the basis of their religion or ethnicity to widespread massacres and genocides as with the cases of genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia and now in Iraq and Syria. In biased- motivated crimes, civilians are attacked or massacred simply because of their belief or ethnicity. Evidently hate crimes result in the violation of all human rights, including the right to life, the right to food, health, etc and predominantly the rights of children and women. Hence, once widespread violence and atrocity breaks out, many members of the international community, including the neighboring countries, the UN and the related bodies are negatively affected. Needless to say, preventing atrocity crimes and responding to them is a priority for the international community. As stated in paragraph 76 of “the Draft Recommendations”, raising public awareness and educating people to understand and respect the rights of minority, acts as a platform for the protection of members of minority groups against violence. Education is one of the best techniques to address, prevent and respond to violence against minorities. Educational campaigns can facilitate inter-ethnic or inter-religious dialogues and promote understanding of and respect for minority rights. It will provide the minorities with the platform for dialogue and to participate in negotiations with members of their community, so that there will be fewer tendencies for members of minority groups and their exponents to respond to violence with violence. Furthermore educational campaigns have the capacity to counter hate crimes and protect minorities against violence. For instance by promoting slogans that encourage people to endorse mutual understanding, educational campaigns can emphasize on the importance of education as a form of counter-violence activity. All civil society organizations can document cases of violence against minorities; they can provide victims with assistance and positive interventions in line with their educational efforts. They can present anti-violence projects to the police force, the judiciary, other government bodies, NGOs, schools and universities. Educational efforts can also focus on other areas, such as training professionals, including attorneys and counsellors to deal with violence. The Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV) believes that a holistic education-based response to violence is one of the best techniques to deal with violence against minorities and calls on all States to present and enforce their commitment to the prevention of violence through education. ............................................................................................................................................................ ......................... Religious Extremism and Minority Rights