International conference “Holocaust in Ukraine: resources and perspectives” works in Paris

October 1-3 2007 in Paris works international conference about the the Holocaust in Ukraine. The event is organized by the Sorbonne University, the Foundation pour la Memoire de la Shoah, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington DC) and other under the support of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

It brings together researchers, teachers and students on the holocaust from several countries all over Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, the United States and Australia to work together and to expose their researches about the holocaust. Around 150 participants are expected, 34 of which will present their work. Seven Ukrainian researchers will participate to the conference and give papers.

It is the first time that an international academic initiative about the Holocaust in Ukraine is supported by a non-religious Ukrainian private philanthropic foundation. "This cooperation confirms the evolution of the way Ukrainians consider this dramatic page of their history" declared Thomas Eymond-Laritaz, President of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation in cooperation with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Video history and education of the South California University implements "Towards a memory", an educational program about Holocaust in Ukraine. Aim of the program is to help school teachers in giving the Holocaust topic to students. Program consists of two parts: developing of the guidebook and training teachers on how to use the guidebook. Each chapter of the guidebook is illustrated by a part of "Spell your name" documentary. As expected, guidebook will be used not only by teachers of history but also by teachers of social science, law, ethics, philosophy and literature.

In 2006, a documentary film about the Holocaust in Ukraine was co-produced by Victor Pinchuk and Steven Spielberg with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute. The Premiere of this film took place in Kyiv on October 2006 in presence of Mr. Spielberg. Film, directed by Serhiy Bukovsky, is based on testimonies of Jews surviving the Nazi atrocity and those who rescued the Jews at death peril.

 PDF version of the conference program