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B’nai B’rith Representative Geneva Sonia Elkrief delivered a public statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the removal of the Aalst Carnival in Belgium from UNESCO’s List of Intangible History of Humanity. 
Madame President,
 
The Aalst Carnival in Belgium holds the inglorious distinction of being the only listing to be removed from UNESCO’s List of the Intangible History of Humanity. UNESCO had to create a procedure for removal because no one could previously fathom that such a need would ever arise.  The Aalst parade, however, richly deserved its removal after multiple incidents of anti-Semitic displays, including using Holocaust imagery as well as grotesque depictions of Jews that could have just as easily appeared in Der Sturmer, the virulently anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda newspaper. This year, participants dressed up as Orthodox Jews with insect bodies.
 
The mayor of Aalst has repeatedly defended the parade—and defiantly so. Belgium’s Prime Minister, however, has correctly understood that it is a stain on the country. But it goes beyond even that. It is a stain on Europe. That this parade could continue as is with recurrent horrific displays—to cheers from the crowd, no less—a mere 30 minutes away from Europe’s capital is not just a shame, it is a failure. A failure in leadership and a failure in education.
 
We urge all European countries to take action now. First, adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of anti-Semitism. The second step is to institute or review mandatory Holocaust education in schools throughout the continent.
 
Thank you, Madame President.