Educational Films
"Hate Speech | What are the Consequences ? | What You Can Do to Prevent the Next Atrocity"
Hate speech incites violence and has devastating effects on communities. Its scale and impact are nowadays amplified by new technologies and social media to the point that online hate speech has become one of the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and violent ideologies.
Alice Nderitu, the Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide tells about the real world examples of crimes committed as a result of hate speech, and how engaging local communities holds the key to preventing future incidents.
The United Nations has a long history of mobilizing the world against hatred of all kinds to defend human rights and advance the rule of law. The impact of hate speech cuts across numerous existing United Nations areas of focus, from human rights protection and prevention of atrocity crimes to sustaining peace and achieving gender equality and supporting children and youth.
"Testimony: the Liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration Camp (1940-1945)"
In observance of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and the end of the Second World War, the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme has produced an exhibition on Auschwitz Birkenau, the German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp that provides background on the camp along with testimony from the archive of USC Shoah Foundation -- The Institute for Visual History and Education. This 15-minute film tells the story of six individuals, who were either imprisoned in the camp or were soldiers in the Red Army that liberated the camp on 27 January 1945. The film has been subtitled in all six United Nations official languages and was featured in exhibits mounted at New York Headquarters and at a number of locations around the world, in cooperation with the United Nations Information Centres.
Educational Video "The Path to Nazi Genocide"
The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme has partnered with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to make a film resource and educational package available to educators around the world in all United Nations official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The film, "The Path to Nazi Genocide", was produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and subtitled by the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme. Together with an article and timeline on the Holocaust, the DVD will be distributed to the global network of United Nations Information Centres and teachers to assist them in introducing the Holocaust to students. Using rare footage, the film examines the Nazis’ rise and consolidation of power in Germany and explores their ideology, propaganda, and persecution of Jews and other victims. It also outlines the path by which the Nazis and their collaborators led a state to war and to the murder of millions of people. By providing a concise overview of the Holocaust and those involved, this resource is intended to provoke reflection and discussion about the role of ordinary people, institutions and nations between 1918 and 1945.
The film is intended for adult viewers, but selected segments may by appropriate for younger audience.
This film was made possible by generous support from Dr. Donald and Sue Hecht, the Bernice and Milton Stern Foundation, the Louis and Henrietta Blaustein Foundation and the May Family Endowment for Civic Responsibility.
Educational Video "Footprints for Hope"
“Footprints for Hope” the educational materials include a lesson plan and a film that centre around one of the most painful graphic images from the Holocaust, the shoes of the victims who perished in Nazi death camps. The idea behind the project is to stimulate interest amongst the students to learn more about the Holocaust. Through an activity and discussion built around an everyday "ordinary" item that is a necessity to all people, the students can better connect with the victims and their stories. The discussion may shift from past history to current acts of discrimination and violence. Students can examine their role in helping to prevent racism and prejudice from spreading in their communities, while exploring their common humanity. The project concludes with an element of hope, symbolized by the painting of ordinary footwear with vivid colours, representing a brighter future. This is both an individual and group activity, which enables each student to do his or her part to symbolically improve the group's immediate surroundings.
Lesson plan is available here and PowerPoint Presentation here.
Educational materials were created by Paul Salmons, independent curator and educator specializing in challenging histories. Salmons has curated the international award-winning exhibition "Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away" and is the chief curator of "Seeing Auschwitz".
Photography of the footwear that serves as the focus for the lesson on the Holocaust was provided courtesy of Olivia Hemingway. The shoe is part of the Collections of the Imperial War Museum London. The video for educators was produced by Cornelia Reetz, United Kingdom Holocaust Centre, Nottinghamshire.