CAMPAIGN REPORT

RESISTANCE! Who, if not Us? When, if not Now? Where, if not Here? 9 November 2001 International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

Commemorations in more than 33 countries
- Synagogue re-opened in Dresden (D)
- "Festival Without Borders" in Luxembourg
- Action month for the Rroma community in Croatia
- 150.000 people demonstrate in Rome (I)

During the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism 2001 activities were organised in more than 33 countries by organisations from diverse backgrounds. With the common theme "Resistance" demonstrations and commemorations took place from Georgia to Ireland. In the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Finland and Luxembourg festivals against discrimination were organised. Media-actions in Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia and Turkey pointed out the persistence of discrimination and intolerance in our present societies.
Because the WTO-meeting in Qatar started on 9 November 2001, anti-globalisation issues were often linked to commemorations of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom as was the case with resistance against the war in Afghanistan. In this wider framework, in most of the big cities throughout Europe huge demonstrations and festivals took place, e.g. in Rome, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Berlin.
In Croatia during the whole month of November, activities for the Rroma community were organised to support their rights and help them to solve their structural problems.
The neo-Nazi pogrom in Moscow, where two Caucasian tradesmen were killed and many others got injured, was a sad but compelling argument, proving that we have to resist against discrimination and intolerance here, now and in the future.

Resistance
Historically, resistance has taken different forms and shapes, depending on historical circumstances, ranging from armed struggles against fascist forces to education projects on issues of discrimination. It is important to understand that groups and individuals taking part in resistance have always been very different and their methods differed accordingly. The best results were obtained, however, when a degree of mutual understanding, co-operation and solidarity between different groups was achieved. Anti-racist and anti-fascist resistance has never been a monopoly of any single political current.
UNITED has produced the poster "Resistance ­ Who, if not us? When, if not now? Where, if not here?" that was distributed all over Europe. You can download the poster from the UNITED website www.unitedagainstracism.org, where also background information on the campaign can be found.

The "Kristallnacht" pogrom: a short history
In Germany on November 9th 1938, the Nazis started a pogrom against the Jews. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, Jews were subjected to harsh laws against them - being forced to hand over their businesses to 'Aryans', only being allowed to shop in Jewish-owned shops, children only allowed to go to Jewish schools etc.
On November 6th, a young Jew living in Paris, Herschel Grynszpan, received a postcard from his father Zindel who had been deported, along with 18.000 other German Jews, on October 27th to the Polish frontier. The postcard described the terrible conditions that the deportees were living under. Herschel Grynszpan was so angered by what he read that he went to the German Embassy in Paris and shot the first German official that he saw, Ernst vom Rath, a diplomatic assistant. Vom Rath died of his injuries on November 8th and the news of his death reached Germany the next day. The Nazis and Hitler denounced the killing as part of a Jewish world-wide conspiracy against Germany.
The pogrom started in Berlin on November 9th 1938, organised unofficially by Hitler's SA storm troops. Synagogues were set on fire. Jewish shops had their windows smashed across the country, which gave rise to the name "Kristallnacht", which freely translated means the Night of Broken Glass. Many Jews were physically attacked too. More than 7000 Jewish businesses across the country were attacked. Around 200 synagogues were destroyed and 91 Jews were killed. More than 30.000 were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Many of these were killed in the following two months.
The "Kristallnacht" pogrom is usually seen as the symbolic beginning of the Holocaust, the systematic murder of over 6 million Jews, over a million Roma and Sinti, gay people as well as communists, trade unionists and many others.
The word "Kristallnacht" was given by the Nazis themselves to the pogrom, because it mocked what had happened. German anti-fascists today prefer to describe the events of this night as Reichspogromnacht, although in most other countries, the term is still used as it is more well-known.
Although there is only one Holocaust, genocide has taken place in several places on several occasions after World War II. When we say "Never Again", it does not mean that it has never happened again. It means that we commit ourselves to do everything in our power to make sure that it does not happen again.

ALBANIA
With the rise of violence in Macedonia over the last year, it became obvious that the Balkan region is still a "powder keg" and the wish for a peaceful future within the whole Balkan region shaped the activities of non-governmental organisations in Albania. On 9 November 2001 the organisation "Intelektualet e rinj Shprese" organised in co-operation with Balkan League a concert, where choirs from Albania and Montenegro performed together under the theme "Give Peace a Chance".
A public lecture in Tirana on 9 November 2001, which was organised by the Albanian Committee for Peace and Democracy, addressed the problem of discrimination against minorities in the Balkan region.


AUSTRIA
Several organisations co-operated to organise a manifestation at the "Aspangbahnhof" in Wien, where during Nazi times many Jews were deported to concentration camps. In the appeal for the manifestation, organisations pointed out that people should be aware of the dangerous policies of the present Austrian government. The political everyday life in Austria consists of discrimination against foreigners and other minorities, hate-speech against the Jewish community and a doubtful interpretation of history including the assessment that "Austria was the first victim of the Nazis". After 11 September the general denunciation of foreigners as "terrorists" has been used to justify the launch of new laws that decrease the freedom and democratic rights of all people in Austria, especially of those, who have no citizen's rights anyway.
All these tendencies should make us aware that the right-wing governments that came to power with Haider in Austria or with Berlusconi in Italy are a danger to the principles and practices of democracy - particularly because they know very well, how to use the media. The organisers of the manifestation stated that people are needed who are willing to resist against this.

AZERBAIJAN
After decades of armed conflicts with the neighbouring country Armenia, there is still no peace in Azerbaijan. Governments of both countries use war propaganda to support nationalistic policies, which promote hatred between the people even more.
On 9 November 2001, the Social Democratic Youth Organisation of Azerbaijan organised in co-operation with several other organisations the conference "Intercultural Co-operation". In the Resolution of the Conference, the participants took a stand against fascism, racism and discrimination and expressed their wish for a peaceful future in the whole Caucasus region.

BELARUS
Discrimination and human rights abuses are part of the daily life in Belarus and it is very difficult to campaign against these problems. Often organisations have to get a permit from the government, to be allowed to organise a demonstration. In addition, activists reported that past actions around 9 November have been forbidden by the state. Despite this difficult situation, many NGOs contribute actively to the European-wide solidarity against intolerance.
In Minsk, the NGO "Interactive" organised in co-operation with the youth educational centre "Fialta" an alternative performance and disco on 9 November 2001. On the same day, "Anti-fascist Centre" in Grodno launched a special CD, which brings together musicians from Belarus and other European countries, who are involved in the struggle against fascism and racism.

BELGIUM
Minority groups, who are faced with discrimination from right-wing parties like the "Vlaams Blok", are well organised in Belgium and resisted with various activities on 9 November 2001 against the right-wing tendency that has become commonplace in Belgium since several years. Jewish communities in Brussels and Gent organised commemorations of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom.

CROATIA
In the night of 9 November 2001, around 10 nazi-skinheads attacked a group of young people in Zagreb and two of them were seriously injured. Over the last years there were several attacks by Nazi-skinheads in Zagreb, mostly against Roma and people of colour. But the neo-nazi-scene in Croatia also harbours a virulent hatred against Serbian people, which has found a violent outlet: on 30 October 2001 fifteen Nazi-skinheads attacked a multicultural club in Zagreb, because a documentary film about a Serbian soccer player was shown there.
Accordingly, the work of anti-racist organisations in civil society is very important. And there are several active NGOs in Croatia. During the whole month of November, the "Euro Youth Club" organised activities for the Roma community in support of their rights and aiming to help to solve their structural problems in Croatia. To improve the education of Roma-children, several workshops and seminars were organised and a round-table aimed to strengthen the communication between Roma-organisations and the Croatian authorities.
Another action on 9 November was organised by "Homo - Association for Human Rights, Protection and Civic Freedom" in Pula, where several films were shown on discrimination in post-socialist times.

Flyer for the torch light demonstration in Copenhagen (DK) on 9 November 2001

DENMARK
The criminalisation of people, who migrate between different countries, splits the society in "legal" and "illegal" people. Despite the fact, that migration is one of the oldest phenomena of the human race, discrimination against people who leave their home country to work abroad is growing. In the elections of November 2001 in Denmark, an anti-immigrant party gained a lot of votes and the other parties have taken over many of their intolerant ideas.
Demonstrations and commemorations of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom took place in more than 15 cities all over the country on 9 November 2001. During the big torch light demonstration in Copenhagen the people walked under the banner "No to Discrimination - Yes to Integration" aiming to set a counter trend against the growing xenophobia.


FINLAND
Various activities took place in Finland around 9 November 2001. The anti-racist radio station "Radio Robin Hood" organised a special radio programme on Human Rights and against racism in Turku in co-operation with other NGOs. The Cultural Centre Caisa organised a "skills and possibilities week" in Helsinki, during which young people attended workshops concerning racism and tolerance.
During the big demonstration against the WTO-meeting in Qatar, which took place in Helsinki on 9 November 2001, as one of several themes, a link was made to the commemoration of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom. The worlds' cultural richness was presented on the World Music Festival that took place in Mariehamm on 10 and 11 November 2001.

GEORGIA
The situation for NGOs is very difficult in Georgia. International Human Rights organisations have problems, to monitor all Human Rights abuses in the Caucasus state as they are not granted insight in public institutions. But there are people who resist against the situation in Georgia. Since years the "Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre" in Tbilisi is an active member of the UNITED network. On 9 November 2001 they organised an exhibition and demonstration and distributed anti-fascist information and UNITED material.

GERMANY
According to a list compiled by journalists from the "Tagesspiegel", more than 8200 extreme-right crimes against refugees, migrants and minorities were perpetrated in Germany in 2001. Obviously not much has changed since chancellor Schröder launched a campaign against right-wing violence last year, which was called the "Aufstand der Anständigen" ("the rebellion of the decent"). Unfortunately anti-racist organisations did not have the benefit of extra support, as a result many projects could not be carried out due to lack of money. After 11 September it seems that governments no longer prioritise anti-racism. However, it should be clear that there is a link between intolerance and global injustice. Furthermore, in the aftermath of the attacks on the United States many Muslims have faced increased discrimination. So the activities of anti-racists and anti-fascists are badly needed.
As every year around November 9, many activities took place throughout Germany. Demonstrations were organised in most big cities, which made a link between the expanding problem of islamophobia and the discrimination of minorities in history. During the action "bridges of friendship" pupils and students decorated bridges in Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, Dortmund, Schwerte and Hamm during the whole month of November with banners against racism, antisemitism and intolerance.
The annual "Council Against Racism and Nazism" in Gera showed the resistance, which exists against the rising neo-fascism in Eastern Germany. Towns in Eastern Germany are in danger to be transformed into "national liberated zones" by far-right groups, who promote racism and xenophobia openly in a violent way. Among other activities, a demonstration took place, where hundreds of people took part and unrolled the banner "This City has enough of Nazis".
A remarkable event took place in Dresden: 63 years after the Jewish synagogue was destroyed during the "Kristallnacht" pogrom in 1938, it was re-opened again on 9 November 2001. It is the first new synagogue built in Eastern Germany since the reunification in 1990.

A decorated bridge during the action "bridges of friendship" in Germany

GREAT-BRITAIN
Increasing islamophobia in the aftermath of 11 September is a big problem in Great-Britain. Discrimination affects people who look as if they are of Muslim origin and people are faced with hate because of the sole fact, that they wear a turban. An editor from the anti-fascist magazine "Searchlight" reported on the UNITED conference "East-West" that people from India have been attacked on the street only because apparently they were perceived to be "Islamic terrorists". The far-right movement in Great Britain supports this tendency actively. It has been reported, that British National Party supporters, dressed as clergymen, have been distributing anti-Islam leaflets outside of several churches and cathedrals throughout the country.
The resistance against this intolerance was linked to commemorations of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom as well as to anti-war protest. In several cities demonstrations took place. In Newcastle, the candle light vigil to remember "Kristallnacht" on 9 November 2001 was organised by "Tyne & Wear Against Racism". Like every year, it attracted a lot of people.

GREECE
To guarantee the independent distribution of information, the freedom of the press is one of the fundamental rights within a democracy. Over the last years doubts have arisen as to whether this right has been safeguarded. Big media-conglomerates have become powerful players in Europe. In some cases it is hard to see the dividing line between the media and politics, which puts democracy in danger. In Greece this phenomenon has been a big problem during the past year. The TV-Station "Teletora", which is owned by an ultra-right-wing journalist and politician has supported antisemitic rumours around the terror attacks on 11 September. These rumours were spread in publications of another right-wing politician as well and have found their way to the Greek general public. In a press release, the Greek Helsinki Monitor protested against the spread of antisemitic hate speech in the public media and warned that antisemitism should not be tolerated within the Greek society. To underline its claim, GHM was present in two special TV programmes on racism.

HUNGARY
The International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism was actively supported in Hungary this year and several activities were organised. The Human Rights Students' Initiative at the Central European University organised special screenings of films, an awareness-desk against fascism and antisemitism and in the same framework, they distributed posters, postcards and other related material.
The Hungarian Federation of Resistance Fighters and Anti-fascists organised a demonstration in front of the Hungarian parliament to make people aware about the relationship between fascism in history and institutionalised racism of today.
An intercultural football match was organised by the Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights movement under the theme "Fight Racism with Sport".

IRELAND
Many people from different countries started to work in Ireland in the last years and the attention for problems like racism and discrimination in the workplace has increased. Like last year, the Equality Authority, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and others organised the "Anti-Racist Workplace Week" from 5- 9 November 2001. This campaign aims to promote good anti-racist policy and practice in the workplace, but also sends a message for greater equality across local communities and the wider society.
Another action on 9 November 2001 was the launch of a new internet-section of the website from National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism. An interactive form gives victims of racist violence the first on-line possibility, to report their incident. NCCRI will summarise the inputs and relay the info to a wider public. You can find the form on www.nccri.com/ReportForm.html.

Resource pack of the "Anti-Racist Workplace Week" from 5- 9 November 2001 in Ireland

ITALY
The basic idea of commemorations and demonstrations around the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism is being aware of history and taking action against fascist ideologies in the present. The commemoration of the Holocaust gives us a duty towards the present and the future, to combat discrimination wherever it appears. In this context the Berlusconi government gave a good reason for reservations about the situation of human rights in Italy. During the G8-summit in Genoa police repression reached highs that were new in Europe: peaceful demonstrators were beaten up, arrested people were faced with fascist slogans from police authorities, journalists and activists became victims of fundamental human and democratic rights violations. In the moment, activists from all over Europe work together in a trial against the police.
In a conference about the "Kristallnacht" pogrom in Torino on 9 November 2001, a link was made between the fascist past to the present policies in Italy. Many people in Italy are resisting against the policies of the right-wing government, as was shown by the big demonstration in Rome on 9 November 2001, where around 150.000 people demonstrated against the war in Afghanistan, the WTO meeting in Qatar and against neo-fascist policies in Italy.


KYRGYZSTAN
International human rights organisations are deeply concerned about the recent incidents in Kyrgyzstan that endanger the development of democracy seriously. According to an appeal from the "International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights", criminal charges against the Kyrgyz parliamentarian Mr. Beknazarov seem to be fabricated because of his vocal criticism of the policies of President Akaev. The KGB was apparently involved in the effort to discredit Mr. Beknazarov.
Minorities still do not have a good position in Kyrgyzstan. Gays and Lesbians are not really accepted within society and their sexual orientation is often cause for discrimination. On 9 November 2001 Amnesty International organised a role-play about gays and lesbians in history in the framework of the campaign "I love you the way you are"


LATVIA
The neo-Nazi scene in Latvia is gaining more and more supporters. Activists reported an emerging nationalist trend among youngsters. Anti-fascist youth work within the communities becomes more and more important, to educate young people in a more open view towards the world. Organisations like the "Latvian Anti-Fascist Action" are working in that direction, but the work needs financial support to be successful on a broader basis. On 9 November 2001 a poster campaign against fascism and antisemitism was organised by the Antifascist Action in Riga.

Posters of the poster campaign against fascism and antisemitism in Riga (LV)

LITHUANIA
In research, which took place in secondary schools, it emerged that many young people in Lithuania do not know much about the relationship between fascism and antisemitism. Although the term "fascism" is well known, only 57% of the pupils know the meaning of "antisemitism". This number is alarming, as 14% of the pupils confess, to have fascist friends. During the conference "youth against fascism and antisemitism" organised by the NGO Revitra on 9 November 2001, participants came to the conclusion that the relationship to the minorities in the country has to be improved. As a first positive initiative, a tour for young people was organised to the Lithuanian Genocide Museum.
In the Kaunas IX Fort Museum many activities took place during the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. Lectures and discussions with pupils and students were organised where former prisoners told about life in the Kaunas ghetto, their impressions, feelings and conceptions about the Holocaust.

LUXEMBOURG
By working together anti-racist organisations from different countries can combine their forces and provide a real platform for their claim for a world without borders. On 9 November 2001, "Comité de Liaison et d'Action des Etrangers" from Luxembourg, "Mouvement contre le Racisme" from France and "Multikulturelles Zentrum" from Germany co-operated and organised the cultural and political "Festival Without Borders" in Esch/Alzette. During three days, a meeting point of cultures was created. Beside several activities, an exhibition has been composed by several artists about "borders, migration and culture", specialities from different cultures and regions have been offered during a blues-jazz concert, a discussion about "sans-papiers" and dances from Cap Verde have been performed. People from all over the world took part in this very special festival.

Exhibition "borders, migration and culture" in Esch/Alzette (LUX)

MOLDOVA
In Moldova every year a lot of activities are organised around the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. This year lectures and seminars were organised in several schools throughout the country. These events focused on Holocaust education and were organised by the "Youth Helsinki Citizens' Assembly".
In addition, on 9 November 2001 a media-conference took place in Chisinau and a press release was published about "hate speech". On the same day, the "Juventus Youth Association" organised the youth campaign "together against fascism and antisemitism" in Balti.


Lectures and seminars in several schools throughout Moldova

NETHERLANDS
Like in many actions throughout Europe, organisations in the Netherlands enlarged the focus of the demonstrations on 9 November and linked the commemoration of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom to present problems such as rising islamophobia, the war in Afghanistan or anti-globalisation issues (the meeting of the WTO started in Qatar on 9 November as well). During the actions it became obvious again, that there are many connections between different topics and that the success of future campaigns depends on the will of the people, to work together towards a common goal within a "diversity of subjects". However, there is enough antisemitism in our societies to warrant a commemoration in itself.
Demonstrations and commemorations took place in more than 10 cities throughout the country. In Breda around 500 people marched under the theme "Together against discrimination, antisemitism and islamophobia - the remembrance of the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom is now more actual than ever". More than 300 people marched through the small town Wageningen and held a minute of silence for the victims of "Kristallnacht" on 9 November 1938 and the victims of the terror-attacks on 11 September 2001.
In Eindhoven a huge festival took place, where several bands performed and took a stand for open minds towards past, present and future.

Festival in Einhoven (NL) to commemorate the "Kristallnacht" pogrom

NORWAY
Although the United Nations Human Development report ranked Norway as "the best place in the world to live", this idyllic image does change indeed with a deeper insight in the realities of the country. The case of Benjamin Heransen, a 15-year-old African-Norwegian boy who was stabbed to death on a sidewalk by neo-Nazis has offered a disturbing challenge to the country's vision of itself.
Hatred against immigrants is not a new phenomenon in Norway. After the elections of last September after 80 years of dominance the Labour Party has had to engage support from the anti-immigrant Progress Party, to keep up the majority in Parliament.
Anti-racist organisations in Norway are making the people aware of the realities in their country and promote a global view on migration and immigration. On 9 November 2001 a demonstration against fascism and racism took place in Oslo and showed that there are people resisting against racist ideologies.
The North Sea Traffic Museum organised a torchlight procession to the museum and a hearing about the "Kristallnacht" pogrom. In addition, documentary films were shown about the life of Anne Frank and M/S Donau, the boat that was used to deport 532 Norwegian Jews during World War II.

POLAND
Various activities were organised around the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism in Poland. In Torun, the "Autonomist Collective" performed a street theatre about what has happened during the "Kristallnacht" pogrom. A link was made during the action between the historical discrimination of Jews to the present discrimination of Muslims. Anti-racist banners were displayed and people charted "Never Again!"
In Warsaw, the "Anti-Nazi Group" and the "Never Again Association" released an anti-racist educational videotape and the anti-racist CD-compilation "Reggae Against Racism". More creative activities took place all over the country. In Lodz, a film screening on the "Kristallnacht" pogrom, in Sandomierz graffiti actions and in Tarnobrzeg a street commemoration took place. In the framework of the "International Civis Youth Video Project", young people were encouraged to write, direct and produce amateur videos on the themes "multicultural society and tolerance" which were then selected by an independent jury. On 9 November 2001, the project was finished with the award-giving ceremony in Warsaw. On 10 November 2001, a lecture on the topic "right-wing extremism, racism and exclusion" took place in Warsaw that was organised by Civis Europe and the "Never Again Association".

Anti-racist CD-compilation "Reggae Against Racism" that was launched on 9 November 2001 in Warsaw (PL)

ROMANIA
The fight for the rights of gays and lesbians is still difficult within the Romanian society. The organisation "ACCEPT" does a lot of good work, to raise awareness for more tolerance towards people's sexual orientation. On 9 November 2001, a debate was organised in Budapest with speakers from Jewish, Roma and gay organisations. A film was shown which documented homosexual life in Germany from the turn of the 20th century through World War II. In the discussion that followed, people stated that the problems of minorities in history transform into the problems they have in the present societies.
The "Pro Europe League" organised a meeting with high-school pupils at the synagogue in Tirgu Mures where the meaning of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom for today was discussed.

RUSSIA
It is very sad to see, that racism against Caucasians in Russia is becoming more and more dangerous: on 31 October 2001 a horrifying pogrom took place in Moscow, when hundreds of Nazi-Skinheads stormed several markets, where mostly Caucasian traders were selling their goods. Two people were killed and many were injured.
Activists from Russia report since years about the increasing discrimination of Caucasians and the UNITED network has informed European NGOs about this dangerous development in the past as well. But it seems that the existing institutionalised racism against Caucasians is very hard to combat. Despite of this, human rights organisations organised many activities around the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism all over Russia.
Like every year, Memorial organised a street action in St. Petersburg in the framework of a campaign in support of homeless people. During the street action, the activists informed about the discrimination of homeless people in history and today. In Ekaterinburg a discussion with school children, an exhibition about the "Kristallnacht" pogrom and an anti-fascist picket took place and in Voronezh a youth conference, discussion and exhibition of Antifa-posters was organised under the theme "Anti-Fascism and Multiculturalism - Opportunities in Russian Society". In Moscow, the seminar "The Russian Way to Fight Racism" took place which was organised by "Centre for Interehnic Cooperation".


Seminar "The Russian Way to Fight Racism" in Moscow

SLOVENIA
On a huge demonstration in central Ljubljana on 9 November 2001, people linked the commemoration of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom to the resistance against the WTO-meeting in Qatar and the war in Afghanistan.
Club Gromka organised many different activities in the framework of the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. "Fascism in nowadays Slovenia" was the theme of a discussion that was followed by showing of anti-fascist films and a gay and lesbian theatre performance. The day ended with hardcore and punk concerts.

Demonstration in central Ljubljana on 9 November 2001

SWEDEN
Commemorations of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom have a great tradition in Sweden. Every year on 9 November people march through the centre of Stockholm to resist against fascism and antisemitism. Also this year the demonstration that was organised by the "Network Against Racism" took place and was attended by many people. In many other cities like in Göteborg and Lund commemorations have been organised. People linked the resistance against fascism with protests against the war in Afghanistan and the worldwide unequal socio-economic situation.

SWITZERLAND
Many anti-racist organisations promote refugees' rights, as the situation for sans-papiers is very difficult in Switzerland, which is situated like an enclave in the middle of "Fortress Europe". On 15 November 2001 the demonstration "at the borders of democracy ­ Schengen and police control" took place in Basel. It was organised by "Solidarité sans Frontières" in co-operation with NGOs from France. On 8 November 2001 the new book "Living means fighting" about the anti-fascist resistance in Switzerland in the years 1926-40 was presented in Zurich.

UKRAINE
The constitutional referendum of 16 April 2001 is generally seen as a serious setback in Ukraine's development towards democracy. It ran against recognised
norms of democracy, increased President Kuchma's power and the authoritarian rule. According to a report from the "International Helsinki Federation" the human rights situation in the Ukraine did not improve and fundamental problems have increased: minority religious groups face intolerance, and the situation of the Crimean Tatars has remained unresolved. They, as well as other ethnic minority groups, have also faced police brutality. On 9 November 2001 the "Association for Interethnic Peace and Harmony" organised the conference "Common Past ­ Common Future" and linked the historical pogroms in the Ukraine during the Nazi-occupation to present problems like the situation of ethnic minorities.

YUGOSLAVIA
Youth organisations and Antifa-groups in Yugoslavia support the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism each year in a creative way. On 9 November 2001 theatre workshops against fascism and antisemitism in Belgrade took place, and in Subotica an anti-fascist concert was organised.

ACTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES
MALTA: Organisations in Malta take part actively in the actions around the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. On 9 November 2001 the organisation Azzjoni Pozittiva organised a "peace march and concert against fascism" in St. Julians.
PORTUGAL: In the framework of the 9 November 2001 UNITED campaign material was distributed all over Portugal to the victim support offices of the organisation "Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima".
TURKEY: A media campaign has been carried out by the independent news-organisation Arkadas during the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism in Turkey. A short history of 9 November was sent out and an action plan was distributed throughout Turkey.
UZBEKISTAN: On 9 November 2001, the "International Museum of Peace and Solidarity" in Samarkand displayed UNITED material and other information about the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism.



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UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
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