Antisemitism
AntisemitismiStock

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Organization of American States (OAS) have co-published a Spanish language handbook for combating antisemitism.

The Handbook for the Practical Use of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism offers clear guidance and examples of how the definition is being used by law enforcement, the judiciary, educational institutions, and civil society.

The handbook is based on the European Commission Handbook for the Practical Use of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism published in January 2021.

“This manual is a necessary and valuable tool that all governments can use to fight against antisemitism, especially in a region where only a few countries have adopted the IHRA Working Definition,” said Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC’s Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA).

“As antisemitism rises globally, Latin America thankfully has not seen incidents of violent antisemitism since the AMIA bombing in 1994, considered the worst assault on Jews since World War II. We hope that this handbook will be added motivation for more nations in the Americas to adopt the working definition as a preventive measure.”

Publication of the handbook came three years after OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro told the AJC Global Forum in Washington DC that the regional organization would adopt the IHRA Working Definition and urged its 35 member states to do the same.

“Antisemitism is one of the oldest and most lasting forms of racism and xenophobia in the hemisphere which threatens democratic practices and human rights. It endangers the humanistic principles of inclusion, respect of diversity and social peace that is promoted by the OAS,” said Almargo.