US and 35 countries, international bodies endorse Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism

US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt announced the endorsement of the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism by the United States and 35 other states and international bodies on Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter.

"This comprehensive framework, crafted through months of collaboration among special envoys worldwide, lays out essential 'best practices' to combat Jew hatred effectively. It's a significant step forward in our collective efforts against antisemitism," she stated.

Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the AMIA terrorist attack and recent events like October 7th, the threat of antisemitism remains stark. That's why my colleagues and I are taking action. Today, the United States and 35 other states and international bodies endorsed the…

— Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt (@StateSEAS) July 17, 2024

The guidelines were adopted in Buenos Aires, Argentina and are legally non-binding. They include policies to monitor and combat antisemitism "that can be implemented to a wide variety of national, regional, and cultural contexts," according to the US State Department.

There are 12 guidelines. The first is titled "Speak Out," and it calls on political leaders to denounce antisemitism whenever and wherever it occurs. The second is titled "Avoid Politicization," and it states that as antisemitism appears across the political spectrum, it should be rejected without political bias and regardless of its origin. 

The third guideline calls on governments and international bodies to adopt and implement strategies and action plans that engage relevant ministries and consult with Jewish communities and stakeholders. 

The fourth guideline calls on governments and international bodies to appoint national coordinators, special envoys, or designated officials to address antisemitism as a cross-cutting public policy challenge. The fifth endorses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism for governments to use when defining antisemitism.

Collaborating to combat antisemitism

The sixth, seventh, and eighth guidelines discuss protecting Jewish communities, collecting data on antisemitic hate crimes, and enforcing hate crime and anti-discrimination laws so that antisemitism is not tolerated in societies. 

The ninth guideline is titled "Education" and calls on countries and international bodies to educate their citizens on the Holocaust, Jewish culture, and heritage.

The tenth calls on countries and international bodies to cultivate a whole-of-society commitment to combat antisemitism. 

The eleventh guideline calls on international leaders to oppose online antisemitism, stay educated on evolving trends, increase transparency about antisemitic content, and find solutions to combat antisemitism online.

The final guideline calls on strengthening international collaboration to combat antisemitism, including coalition-building and creating more effective, proactive, coordinated responses. 

Signatories included several European countries and European bodies, as well as Israel, Argentina, Canada, Paraguay, Australia, and the United States. No Arab or Muslim countries signed. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also commented on the endorsement of these guidelines. "I commend @Stateseas for endorsing the global guidelines for countering antisemitism. The October 7th massacre epitomized antisemitism in its most heinous form, and hate crimes against Jews continue to rise worldwide," he stated.

"The State of Israel will continue to stand steadfast with the Jewish diaspora around the world and encourage more countries to adopt these guidelines," Katz concluded.

I commend @StateSEAS for endorsing the global guidelines for countering antisemitism.The October 7th massacre epitomized antisemitism in its most heinous form, and hate crimes against Jews continue to rise worldwide.The State of Israel will continue to stand steadfast with…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) July 17, 2024

These guidelines come during a surge of antisemitism across the world since the October 7 attack by Hamas.