NEW YORK – After meeting last week at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, members of the Forum of Special Envoys and Coordinators of the World Jewish Congress for the Fight against Anti-Semitism (SECCA) today released the following statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict:
The barbaric attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel on October 7 resulted in the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. More than 1,400 Jews – women, children, men and elderly people, including Holocaust survivors – were tortured, raped and murdered. More than two hundred people were taken hostage. These events have an immense impact on Jewish communities around the world.
Many national leaders and heads of international organizations across the world have condemned these actions in the strongest terms and expressed their full support and solidarity with the State of Israel. At the same time, protests also took place in many countries – including in some countries and regions that we represent – during which individuals praised the heinous actions of Hamas, “celebrated” the killing of Jews, and even called for more anti-Semitic attacks.
Jewish communities are afraid and threatened. Synagogues and other Jewish sites were attacked. Schools have closed because they can no longer guarantee the safety of their students. Shabbat gatherings require the presence of armed guards for protection. In some cities, Jews were harassed and accosted in the streets. The posters of the captive hostages are defaced and demolished. Anti-Semitism online has increased in unprecedented ways.
We, the undersigned special envoys and coordinators, have a common mandate to combat anti-Semitism and safeguard Jewish life. We welcome the resolute action of many national authorities to protect Jewish communities, as Jews around the world have not faced such challenges since the Holocaust. Aware of these darkest days, we stand with the Jewish people. We will do everything in our power to ensure that hatred against Jews is suppressed and that Jewish life flourishes in peace. Anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred are incredibly harmful and unacceptable.
SO:
- We call on governments to assess the needs and provide the necessary security assistance that Jewish communities need during this time of crisis.
- We urge police and law enforcement to be vigilant against threats against Jews and to be aware that Jews around the world should not be held responsible for the words and actions of the Israeli or any other government, as illustrated by the non-legally binding international agreement. Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Practical definition of anti-Semitism.
- We denounce anti-Semitic acts taking place on some campuses and urge university administrators to condemn them and ensure that their Jewish students, like all other students, have the safety and support necessary during these difficult times to enjoy their rights. right to education.
- We urge civil society – including sports federations, religious communities, the cultural sector and academic circles – not to stand idly by or remain silent, but rather to use their influence to effectively combat anti-Semitism and promote public acts of solidarity.
- We are distressed by the surge in anti-Semitic messages, disinformation, hate speech and terrorist content online, which incite real-life hate crimes and threaten the very social cohesion that binds our democratic societies together. We denounce social media platforms that amplify and multiply this content and call on them to act in accordance with the law and their own terms of use.
History has taught us that in times like these we must speak up and cannot remain indifferent.
“Never again” is now!
Sign,
Chrysoula ALFIARI
Ambassador, Special Envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the fight against anti-Semitism and for the protection of the memory of the Holocaust, Greece
Andrew BAKER
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for the fight against anti-Semitism
Luiz BARREIROS
Head of Delegation to IHRA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portugal
Delphine BORIONE
Roving Ambassador for Human Rights in charge of international issues related to the Shoah, looted property and memory, France
Michael COTLER-WUNSH
Israel’s special envoy for the fight against anti-Semitism
Arvydas DAUNORAVIČIUS
Lithuanian Goodwill Ambassador for Holocaust Remembrance Issues
Irene DIMITROVA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism
David FERNANDEZ PUYANA
Ambassador, Permanent Observer of the United Nations University for Peace to the United Nations Office and intl. organizations in Geneva & Permanent Delegate of UPEACE to UNESCO
Simon
GEISSBÜHLER
Ambassador, Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division,
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland
Alexander
GUESSEL
Special Representative of the Secretary General on anti-Semitism, Muslims and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes, Council of Europe
Michael HEINTZ
Interministerial delegate responsible for coordinating policies to combat racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBTIQ+ hatred, Luxembourg
Felix KLEIN
Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Anti-Semitism
Olivier KLEIN
Former minister, French national delegate against racism, anti-Semitism and LGBTI phobia
Robert KLINKÉ
Ambassador, Special Representative for relations with Jewish organizations, issues related to anti-Semitism, international Sinti and Roma affairs, memory of the Holocaust
Marie Fabienne LOGUZZO
Ambassador, Special Representative of Argentina for the fight against anti-Semitism and head of the delegation to the IHRA
Fernando K.
LOTTENBERG
Commissioner to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Organization of American States
Sarah LUSTIG
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Croatia on issues related to the Holocaust and the fight against anti-Semitism
Deborah LIPSTADT
Ambassador, United States special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism
Deborah LYON
Ambassador, special envoy of Canada for the preservation of the memory of the Holocaust and the fight against anti-Semitism
Lord John MANN
Adviser to the British government on anti-Semitism
Anthony MARTIN
Director, Department for Promoting Austrian Jewish Cultural Heritage and Combating Anti-Semitism, Federal Chancellery, Austria
Bogdan MAZURU
Ambassador, Special Representative of the Government of Romania for memory policies and the fight against anti-Semitism and xenophobia
Ulf MELGAARD
Director, International Law and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
I like MORENO
Coordinator of the Spanish National Plan against Anti-Semitism and head of the delegation to the IHRA
Giuseppe PÉCORARO
Italian coordinator for the fight against anti-Semitism, Italian government
Right Honorable Lord Eric PICKLES
UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues
Robert ŘEHÁK
Czech Republic Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, Interfaith Dialogue and FoRB
Ringo RINGVEE
Estonian national coordinator of measures against anti-Semitism
Vince
SZALAY-BOBROVNICZKY
Deputy Secretary of State for Civil and Social Affairs. Prime Minister’s Office, Hungary
Ulrika SUNDBERG
Special Envoy to the OIC for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue in Sweden
Eddo VERDONIER
National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism, Netherlands
Catherine VON SCHNURBEIN
Coordinator of the European Commission for the fight against anti-Semitism and the promotion of Jewish life
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The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization that represents Jewish communities in 100 countries before governments, parliaments and international organizations.
