American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization of the Jewish people, welcomes the launch of the “United Nations Action Plan to Monitor Antisemitism and Enhance a System-wide Response,” an initiative led by Under-Secretary-General Miguel Moratinos, the UN Focal Point for Monitoring Antisemitism and High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. This new Action Plan is the first-ever commitment by UN leadership to take action across the UN system to prevent and combat antisemitism within the organization and around the world.

“The United Nations has a responsibility to counter the global surge in antisemitism, including antisemitism within the UN itself, and this Action Plan is a first step in meeting that obligation,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “At a time when actions by bodies and actors associated with the United Nations have instilled in many Jews an acute sense of alienation and hostility, we expect the full implementation of this plan and for it to deliver tangible results.”

AJC has long encouraged UN leadership to act on its responsibility to address rising antisemitism around the world, especially in light of the alarming surge we have witnessed following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel. Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC’s Director of International Jewish Affairs, acting in his capacity as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism, served as a key resource to Under-Secretary-General Moratinos as he developed this Action Plan. AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights (JBI) also made important contributions.

The Action Plan:

  • Recognizes that the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks left “an indelible scar on Jews in Israel and around the world,” and that since that time, “there has been an unprecedented increase in antisemitism. Jews fear for their physical security, and many of them had to hide their Jewish identity in public lest they be harassed or even attacked.”
  • Acknowledges the importance of the non-binding International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, noting that 45 Member States have adopted it and that it is the only definition of antisemitism being used by any UN Member State;
  • Pledges that the UN will develop training modules for all UN staff on recognizing and responding to antisemitism, including Holocaust denial and distortion, drawing on the experiences and perspectives of Jewish communities;
  • Commits that  UN senior officials will denounce antisemitic incidents when they occur; and
  • Pledges to create a monitoring mechanism to which UN actors will report actions they have taken to implement the Action Plan and which will also consult with Jewish organizations and communities.

 

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, 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. For more, please visit www.ajc.org

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