Far away and nearby: Holocaust remembrance and human rights education in Switzerland

The article considers how young people in swiss schools are taught about the history and background of the holocaust within the wider perspective of human rights education,as an important basis for education concerning democratic citizenship. given the country's specific history,for decades the holocaust was not a matter of great interest in swiss schools,or a topic that pupils often learned about as a part of their own history. recently,however,sensitivity about historical incidents and the processes of the third reich has increased. holocaust education has also become more important in the context of swiss state institutional policy and non-governmental initiatives and has also become an issue in schools. this article includes an overview of relevant swiss history and the current political situation,and a review of swiss educational policies and especially of activities related to holocaust remembrance and human rights education. © 2010 unesco ibe.