Skip to main content

Main navigation

  • AJC Home
  • Who We Are
    • About AJC
    • Leadership
    • Our Impact
    • Global Offices
    • U.S. Regional Offices
    • Project Interchange
    • Alexander Young Leadership Department
    • Careers
    • Archives and History
  • Issues
    • Israel
    • Antisemitism
      • Translate Hate
      • AJC’s Call to Action Against Antisemitism
      • The Working Definition of Antisemitism
        • Antisemitism as it Relates to Israel
        • Employing the Working Definition
        • Adoption of the Working Definition
        • Use of the Working Definition in the U.S.
        • U.S. Campus Adoption of the Working Definition
      • The State of Antisemitism in America
      • #ShowUpForShabbat
      • A CALL TO ACTION: Combating Antisemitism in Europe
      • Mayors United Against Antisemitism
      • Forms of Antisemitism
        • Anti-Zionism as a Form of Antisemitism
        • Extremist Political Movements
        • Outlawing Jewish Religious Practices
        • Antisemitism Among Migrant Populations in Europe
      • Antisemitism in Europe
    • Radicalism & Extremism
    • BDS
    • Interreligious
    • Human Rights
    • Policy Resources
  • Take Action
    • Action Alerts / Petitions
    • AJC Task Force to Implement the U.S. National Strategy
    • #TranslateHate
    • The State of Antisemitism in America Report
    • AJC's Call to Action Against Antisemitism
    • AJC at the UN General Assembly
    • Stand with Ukraine
    • Advocacy Anywhere
    • Mayors United Against Antisemitism
    • Resources on the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations
  • Global Forum
    • Register for AJC Global Forum 2024
    • AJC Global Forum 2023 News and Video
  • Resources
    • Global Voice
    • Antisemitism Resources
    • Israel Resources
    • Iran Resources
    • Student Resources
  • Support Our Work
    • Donate
    • Donor Recognition Societies
      • National Leadership Council
      • Marshall Society
      • AJC Visionaries
        • Create Your Legacy
    • Planned Giving
  • Relevance
  • Date
  • Title

Secondary navigation

  • Languages
    • English
    • Español
    • Français
    • Deutsch
  • Global Offices
  • Media
  • Podcasts

Header Follow Links

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Donate

Adoption of the Working Definition

The following countries have adopted or endorsed the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism (as of April 2023):

  • Albania
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Hungary
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Moldova
  • The Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay

ENDORSEMENT OF THE WORKING DEFINITION

  • In 2014, the Swiss Federal President Didier Burkhalter, as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, said the Working Definition is, “a useful document for governments and civil society in explaining how anti-Zionism is frequently a mask for antisemitism, and Jewish communities are often targets for anti-Israel animus.”1
  • On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2017, European Justice Commissioner Vera Jourová said, “We will make the IHRA definition available on our website dedicated to the fight against Antisemitism.”2
  • In June 2017, the European Parliament recommended use of the Working Definition in its resolution on antisemitism.
  • In September 2018, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the 31 member countries of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to agree on a common definition of antisemitism. Such a definition can serve as a basis for law enforcement, as well as preventive policies.”3
  • In December 2018, the Council of the European Union adopted a declaration on combating antisemitism, which included a call on member states which have not yet done so to adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.4
  • In January 2019, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed the Combating European Antisemitism Act of 2017 into law. This act, first introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) in January 2017, outlines how combating antisemitism is in the national interest of the United States and encourages adoption by national and multinational government institutions of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.5
  • On February 19, 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron called on France to adopt the IHRA Working Definition. “For the first time in many years, antisemitism is killing people again in France,” said Macron, adding that French authorities “did not know how to react effectively.”

 

1 Swiss OSCE Chairmanship concluding statement. OSCE Switzerland 2014. https://www.osce.org/ odihr/126710?download=true.

2 “Speech of Commissioner Jourová at the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.” 24 January 2017. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019/jourova/ announcements/speech-commissioner-jourova-occasion-international-holocaust-remembrance-day_en.

3 Antisemitism Rising Even in Countries with No Jews at All, Secretary-General Tells Event on Power of Education to Counter Racism, Discrimination.” United Nations Secretary General Statements and Messages. SG/SM/19252-RD/1022, 26 September 2018. https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/sgsm19252.doc.htm.

4 25 IHRA members are EU member states. In November 2018, IHRA membership increased to 32 countries.

5 H.R.672 - Combating European Antisemitism Act of 2017. 115th Congress (2017-2018). https://www. congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/672.

  • The Working Definition of Antisemitism
    • Antisemitism as it Relates to Israel
    • Employing the Working Definition
    • Adoption of the Working Definition
    • Use of the Working Definition in the U.S.
    • U.S. Campus Adoption of the Working Definition

Share This

Back to Top

Global Voice

American Jewish Committee logo on blue background
American Jewish Committee Welcomes Israel’s Admittance to U.S. Visa Waiver Program
Kanye at NY Fashion Week
5 of Kanye West’s Antisemitic Remarks, Explained
AJC- American Jewish Committee
AJC CEO Ted Deutch Meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu During UN General Assembly
upenn
5 Things to Know About the Palestine Writes Event at Penn and Antisemitism
More AJC News and Analysis

Sign Up to Stay Informed

Stay Connected

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Donate

AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world.

© Copyright 2023 AJC

Footer menu

  • Global Voice
  • Who We Are
    • Leadership
    • Global Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Alexander Young Leadership Department
    • Archives and History
    • Careers
  • Issues
    • Israel
    • BDS
    • Antisemitism
    • Radicalism & Extremism
    • Interreligious
    • Human Rights
  • Take Action
  • Global Forum
  • Support Our Work
    • Donate
    • Donor Recognition Societies
    • Planned Giving
  • Legal and Finance Information
    • Administrative Policies
    • Form 990
    • Audited Financial Statements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
  • Global Offices
    • AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding
    • AJC Africa Institute
    • AJC Asia Pacific Institute
    • AJC Berlin Lawrence and Lee Ramer Institute for German-Jewish Relations
    • AJC Paris
    • Shapiro Silverberg AJC Central Europe (Warsaw)
    • AJC Transatlantic Institute (Brussels)
    • Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs
    • AJC Jerusalem
  • Foreign Language Websites
    • AJC Berlin (German)
    • AJC Español (Spanish)
    • AJC Paris (French)