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Eight mayors from Colombia formalized their adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism in a historic ceremony in Bogotá on Tuesday.
With this move, the cities of Pitalito, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Bojacá, Tenjo, Villa Pinzón, Chiquinquirá, and Machetá joined the more than 1,200 entities — including international, national, and local governing authorities, civic bodies, NGOs, educational institutions, athletic leagues and clubs, and corporations — worldwide to have adopted or endorsed the IHRA definition since 2016.
The Colombian mayors plan to use the definition as an educational, guidance, and training tool in municipal activities.
Ocho alcaldes de diferentes municipios de Colombia oficializaron la adopción de la Definición de Antisemitismo de la Alianza Internacional para el Recuerdo del Holocausto (IHRA), reafirmando su compromiso con la memoria histórica, la defensa de los derechos humanos y la… pic.twitter.com/6Ysx3aJDG9
— CAM en Español (@CAMenEspanol) September 3, 2025
These IHRA definition adoptions mark a momentous step in the fight against antisemitism in Colombia, fulfilling a commitment made by local leaders after visiting Israel on a solidarity mission this past May at the invitation of the Israeli Consulate General in Colombia, Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia, and Yovel Messianic Community.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) facilitated the adoptions by helping draft the IHRA declaration signed by the mayors on Tuesday.
The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism was previously adopted by then-Colombian President Iván Duque in June 2022.
CAM Director of Hispanic Affairs Shay Salamon said, “The decision by these Colombian mayors is deeply significant at a time when we are seeing a worrying increase in antisemitism around the world. Colombia is no stranger to this rise in hatred against the Jewish people, and with this adoption, the municipalities are sending a clear message of resolute leadership and commitment to continue building a society free of hatred.”
“Anti-semitism is a persistent and dangerous form of hatred that threatens not only Jewish communities, but also the fundamental principles of pluralism and respect for human rights,” Salamon added. “Local authorities have the responsibility to identify, prevent, and combat it in all its forms.”
Among the officials present was Tuesday’s ceremony were Marcos Peckel, Executive Director of the Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia, and Raúl Rubio, Founding Pastor of the Yovel Messianic Community.
Adoption and implementation of the IHRA definition was a core element of the Municipal Antisemitism Action Index, unveiled by CAM last December at the 2024 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in Beverly Hills, California, as a tool to measure and encourage meaningful local leadership in the fight against antisemitism.
CAM’s outreach in Latin America began four years ago, and since then it has worked diligently to build meaningful partnerships and friendships with influential leaders, legislators, diplomats, community organizations, and civil society activists from a diverse assortment of religious, political and cultural backgrounds in the region to combat antisemitism together.
During this time, CAM en Español has emerged as a key player in the battle against Jew-hatred in Latin America, with a growing coalition involved in impactful activities in countries including Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, and Bolivia, among others.
CAM en Español has organized regional summits hosted by Costa Rica in 2024 (where 18 countries were represented), Uruguay in 2023, Panama in 2022, and Guatemala in 2021.
This October, CAM will hold the fifth-annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
