Argentina has joined a number of countries in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, JPost reported on Monday.
In an official decision announced by the Argentine Foreign Ministry on Sunday night, it called the definition a guide to determining what behaviors can be considered anti-Semitic, so that they can be prevented, sanctioned and eliminated.
The resolution called on all branches of government to use the definition “to contribute to the fight of the Argentine Republic against anti-Semitism in all its forms, collaborate in the construction of a culture of prevention of hostility and violence to which prejudice and intolerance lead, promote education for plurality and reinforce the task of guaranteeing the fulfillment of the objective of education, memory and investigation of the Holocaust and its lessons for us and future generations.”
Argentine Foreign Minister Felipe Solá also invited public and private institutions of Argentina to begin using the working definition.
The IHRA working definition offers a comprehensive description of anti-Semitism in its various forms, including hatred and discrimination against Jews, Holocaust denial and, sometimes controversially, the way anti-Semitism relates to the ways criticism of Israel is expressed.
The adoption of the definition comes after Argentine President Alberto Fernández’s visit to Israel in January as part of the World Holocaust Forum, his first official trip abroad.
Argentina’s Ambassador to Israel Sergio Daniel Urribarri said the decision was meant “to continue developing Holocaust remembrance as an official Argentine State policy.
“Our Minister of Foreign Affairs made it clear in his resolution that its goal is to contribute to the fight against antisemitism in all its forms, collaborate in the building of a culture where hostility and violence have no place, and promote education for pluralism, as well as to encourage the remembrance and research of the Holocaust,” Urribarri added.
A number of countries have adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, including Germany, Britain, Austria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, France, Canada and Cyprus.
The leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations welcomed the Argentine move on Monday.
“We congratulate the government of Argentina for officially adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, as announced by Argentine Foreign Minister Felipe Solá. Argentina joins a host of countries around the world that have already taken this important step, which is vital to the fight against Jew-hatred. We encourage all countries, organizations, and institutions to join in adopting the definition as a means of combating the scourges of antisemitism and racism in all their manifestations,” said Arthur Stark, Chairman, William Daroff, CEO, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chair of the Conference of Presidents.