IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism Adoptions & Endorsements Worldwide
The rise of antisemitism must be addressed by governments and civil society alike. Working from a universal definition is critical in order to combat all forms of contemporary antisemitism.
In the half decade since the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted the Working Definition of Antisemitism, it has become a barometer in the global fight against Jew-hatred, serving as a comprehensive tool to monitor, measure, and ultimately combat contemporary manifestations of this age-old societal scourge.
The definition, along with its 11 explanatory examples of contemporary manifestations of antisemitism, was adopted unanimously by the IHRA’s member states in May 2016, following a lengthy formulation process that emerged from the need to address a wave of “new antisemitism,” characterized by a growing prevalence of Jew-hatred disguised as anti-Zionism, mounting violence, and the normalization of antisemitic ideas across the ideological spectrum – from the extremes on the right and left, as well as radical Islam. The full IHRA definition can be found here.
Learn More About the IHRA Definition By Watching The Video Below:
The definition is increasingly a key pillar in government strategies in the struggle against all forms of contemporary antisemitism. The growing pace of adoptions across all sectors and layers of society is expected to continue in the years ahead, elevating the definition’s status as the most widely accepted definition of Jew-hatred, with more and more entities turning to it as they seek to combat the global resurgence of the world’s “oldest hatred” in a meaningful and effective manner.
A diverse array of international institutions, national governments, municipalities, NGOs, universities, athletic clubs, corporations, and other groups have adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as the guiding framework for their policies against antisemitism, and the definition’s impact and influence are rooted in the mainstream consensus that has formed around it.
Through March 2022, a total of 865 entities have adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism since 2016. In 2021 alone, 200 entities adopted or endorsed the definition worldwide.
Overall, 37 countries, including most Western democracies, have adopted the definition — 28 IHRA member states, four IHRA observer states, and five nations unaffiliated with the IHRA. Following nations such as the United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, and Muslim-majority Albania, the newest additions in 2021 were Australia, Estonia, Guatemala, Poland, South Korea, and Switzerland, followed by the Philippines in 2022.
320 non-federal government entities (including regional, provincial, state, county, and municipal bodies) have adopted the definition, with 39 doing so in 2021, and 13 so far in 2022. In Europe, this has included major national capitals, such as London, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and Vienna. In the United Kingdom, 202 regional, local, and municipal governments have adopted the definition, as have 61 in the United States, 13 in Canada, 11 in Argentina, 8 each in Germany and Italy, 7 in France, 3 in Spain, 3 in Venezuela, and 2 in Australia.
Furthermore, 314 institutions of higher education, 194 NGOs, corporations, religious organizations, student clubs, political parties, and other groups have adopted the definition. Institutions as diverse as the European Parliament, the Organization of American States, the Church of England, the Global Imams Council, Union for Reform Judaism, King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties in the UK, Chelsea Football Club, The Premier League, Argentine Football Association, Daimler AG, Deutsche Bank, and the European Youth Forum have all adopted the definition.
“We must confront antisemitism whenever it occurs. We must continue our work to defeat this stubborn evil of antisemitism. This still infects too much of our world, the pernicious lies that surface time and again, including here in our own country. We have to speak out every time antisemitism rears its ugly head – a lesson I learned early on. Regardless of when, regardless of where it is, regardless of when it happens. The reason
Joseph Biden, 46th President of the United States
Speaking Out Against Anti-Semitism
“All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries. This evil antisemitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of antisemitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate.”
Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States
Speaking Out Against Anti-Semitism
“We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh. All of us have to fight the rise of antisemitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently.”
Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
Speaking Out Against Anti-Semitism
“Through centuries of struggle, Jews across the world have been witnesses not only against the crimes of men, but for faith in God, and God alone. Theirs is a story of defiance in oppression and patience in tribulation – reaching back to the exodus and their exile into the diaspora. That story continued in the founding of the State of Israel. The story continues in the defense of the State of Israel.”
George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States
The Combat Antisemitism Movement’s pledge draws upon the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and its list of specific behaviors used to discriminate against the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel.
