Italian Senator for life Liliana Segre has been unanimously elected as President of the newly-established Extraordinary Commission for combating the phenomena of intolerance, racism, antisemitism and incitement to hatred and violence.
“I hope it can become an important moment for the Republic since the language of hatred is something that has hurt me all my life,” said Segre, a 90-year-old survivor of Auschwitz, who had strongly fought for the establishment of the Commission.
“I began to hear the words of hatred very early and if I can end my life by putting one of those little stones that are put on graves in Jewish cemeteries to say ‘I have come to see you’, then this beginning of commission is also a small stone.”
The commission was established in October 2019 by the Italian Senate with 151 votes in favor, none against and 98 abstentions.
Following delays due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the Commission will start its work under its newly-elected President.
