The Republic of Panama became the 42nd country to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism on Tuesday, a move welcomed by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
A ceremony was held to mark the occasion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Panama City, with Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo and Organization of American States (OAS) Commissioner to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Fernando Lottenberg among the participating dignitaries.
Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo was represented at the event by Minister of the Presidency José Simpson Polo, and leaders of Panama’s Jewish community also joined the gathering.
Por designación del Pdte. @NitoCortizo, el Ministro José Simpson fue testigo de la entrega de la resolución en la que Panamá adopta el término antisemitismo al Sr. Fernando Lottenberg, comisionado de la OEA en esta lucha, a la comunidad judía y la Embajada de @IsraelinPanama. pic.twitter.com/IShZvMMvYp
— Presidencia de Panamá (@presidenciapma) July 25, 2023
In a tweet, Lottenberg noted that Panama was the seventh nation in the Americas to adopt the IHRA antisemitism, calling it a milestone in the fight against racism and discrimination.
Hoje o Panamá tornou-se mais um país a adotar a definição da IHRA sobre antissemitismo. É o sétimo país nas Américas a dar este passo, importante na luta contra o racismo e a discriminação. pic.twitter.com/nX74PTKIZz
— Fernando Lottenberg (@fernandolotten) July 25, 2023
CAM CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa stated, “This is an important step taken by the Panamanian government, and one which will be vital in fighting antisemitism and hate. Acceptance of the IHRA definition is continuing apace globally, almost a quarter of all nations have now accepted and adopted it, with hopefully more on the way.”
Panama hosted last year the Central America-Israel Forum II that was organized by CAM.
The final plank of the joint declaration issued at the end of that forum, which was held at the Latin American Parliament, or Parlatino, in Panama City, read, “We affirm that antisemitism is an increasing ill in societies across the globe and support the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, agreed upon by the European Commission and the United States, among many other leading international entities. This definition allows for anti-Jewish prejudice to be clearly defined in its modern-day forms, helping law enforcement to handle it appropriately and justly.”
CAM Director of Hispanic Outreach Shay Salamon has worked very closely with Panama on the IHRA issue. He commented on Tuesday, “We are delighted and grateful that the Republic of Panama has adopted IHRA and continues to lead in the fight against antisemitism in the region. We are continuing to work in Latin America, where there is a growing understanding of the necessity in fighting antisemitism to create a safer society, free of all forms of hate and discrimination.”
Bravo to Panama on becoming the 42nd country to adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism!
We hope others will follow its lead in taking this important step to fight Jew-hatred.
This came after Panama hosted @CombatAsemitism‘s Central America-Israel Forum last year. pic.twitter.com/9a2aULOwQR
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) July 25, 2023
Israeli Ambassador to Panama Itai Bardov said the adoption put Panama “in line with dozens of leading countries that are clearly saying no to antisemitism, hatred, and intolerance.”
Fue un gran honor y placer participar hoy en la ceremonia de reconocimiento por parte del gobierno de Panamá de la definición IHRA de Antisemitismo.
Este acuerdo, firmado por Canciller @JanainaGob y el comisionado de @AntisemitismOEA Lottenberg, pone a Panamá 🇵🇦 en línea con… pic.twitter.com/NrSy8HJUoy
— Itai Bardov (@ItaiBardov) July 25, 2023
According to data compiled by the CAM Antisemitism Research Center, a total of 1,192 entities worldwide had adopted or endorsed the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as of the end of June. This number represents a broad array of international institutions and organizations, national and local governments, NGOs, universities, athletic clubs, and corporations that have embraced the definition as a framework for recognizing all contemporary iterations of Jew-hatred, training and educational programs, and policymaking initiatives.
(For more information on past data, please see the “IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism 2022 Adoptions & Endorsements Report,” published in January by CAM and Tel Aviv University’s Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry, here.)
The definition says, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
The non-legally binding definition includes 11 explanatory examples detailing specific discriminatory behaviors targeting Jews.
