The International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania

Education should be a means to empower children and adults alike to become active participants in the transformation of their societies. Learning should also focus on the values, attitudes and behaviours which enable individuals to learn to live together in a world characterized by diversity and pluralism.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Commission initiates and coordinates education projects for the secondary schools of Lithuania. The main goal of the projects is nurturing tolerance, culture of human rights, respect for universally accepted human values and rights, promoting development of democratic civil society in school communities through the history of the Nazi and Soviet occupations.

Commission supports schools by providing them with necessary knowledge and by sharing experience in preparation, fund raising and implementation of the projects, and also by giving some financial support for the best project proposals.

The following projects have already become traditional and are being announced annually (since 2002):

- The Commemorating the Day of Mourning and Hope – June 14

- The Holocaust Remembrance Day – September 23, January 27

- The International Tolerance Day – November 16

- The Defenders of Freedom Day - January 13

Every year more and more governmental and non-governmental organizations develop their activities and carry out the projects on education about Holocaust and Soviet crimes for the students of the secondary schools and general public. The education projects, initiated by NGO’s, museums and the Commission, involve school and local communities in all the regions of Lithuania. Until now nearly 1500 teachers of the secondary schools are involved in tolerance education activities (see Education Projects 2002-2009).

International projects >>>