Guatemalan President Giammattei Signs Proclamation Adopting IHRA Antisemitism Definition

Guatemalan President Dr. Alejandro Giammattei endorsed a proclamation adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

Tuesday’s signing ceremony was attended by Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Luis Almagro, who has urged all OAS member states to adopt the definition and fight Jew-hatred in all its contemporary manifestations.

The Republic of Guatemala’s OAS Permanent Mission tweeted, “With this act, Guatemala rejects the practices of antisemitism and discrimination against the Jewish people.”

El Presidente @DrGiammattei adopta la definición de antisemitismo promovida por la @OEA_oficial y el Secretario General @Almagro_OEA2015. Con este acto, Guatemala rechaza las prácticas de antisemitismo y discriminación al pueblo judío. pic.twitter.com/M4gY6cXCGR

— Guatemala en la OEA (@GuatemalaOEA) June 29, 2022

Nearly 1,000 entities — including more than three dozen countries — worldwide have adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism since 2016, according to a study published by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University earlier this year.

The non-legally binding definition includes 11 explanatory examples detailing specific discriminatory behaviors targeting Jews and the State of Israel.

Earlier in June, Colombian President Iván Duque similarly adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as part of the initiative promoted by OAS Secretary-General Almagro.

Last summer, Guatemalan President Giammattei was the keynote speaker at the first-ever Central America Forum for Israel — which was co-hosted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and Center for Jewish Impact, in partnership with the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala, Guatemala-Israel Friendship League, and Jewish community of Guatemala.

“Guatemala adheres to, respects, and supports the fight against antisemitism,” President Giammattei declared in his address.