The second annual conference of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICCA) opened yesterday in Ottawa, Canada. The Government of Canada is supporting the conference, which is bringing together representatives from more than 45 countries.

This conference hopes to engage the global community in the struggle against hatred and Canada is helping to lead the fight against anti-Semitism, a prejudice against or hostility towards Jews that is often rooted in hatred of their ethnic background, religion, or culture.

The conference will wrap up on November 9, the 72nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, when Jewish homes and properties were attacked in Germany and Austria in 1938.

The Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA), formed in March 2009, is assisting with organization of the events in Ottawa.