With antisemitism increasing in Canada and around the world, B’nai Brith has put forward a series of concrete measures that build on ideas issued before last year’s Summit in Charlevoix.
“As a global leader in advancing the principles of democracy, human rights and freedom of religion, Canada has an opportunity to use the G7 Summit as a platform to combat the scourge of antisemitism,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada.
“Our proposals are specific and realistic. They build on our ideas from 2018 – when Canada advocated for a more peaceful and secure world – and fit naturally with France’s Summit goal of fighting inequality. If Jews do not feel equal and accepted in society, there can be no justice and dignity.”
B’nai Brith believes that the Biarritz Summit can strengthen the vital work of organizations such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which has adopted a broadly accepted definition of antisemitism – one that has since been endorsed by Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
B’nai Brith is recommending that G7 Summit leaders use their gathering to unequivocally condemn antisemitism and other forms of religious or racial intolerance, as well as to implement national action plans towards that end. Such national plans can educate the public about the severity of anti-Jewish hatred worldwide.
“France has a national action plan on antisemitism and racism and, like Canada, has adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism,” said Brian Herman, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Government Relations. “G7 education ministers and UNESCO recently adopted a declaration to ‘unite against bullying in all of its forms’, which B’nai Brith believes should be used, in particular, to counter increasing acts of antisemitism directed at school children. Now is the time for G7 leaders to take another bold step.”
To read B’nai Brith Canada’s paper “Combating Antisemitism: From Charlevoix to Biarritz,” click here.
To read B’nai Brith Canada’s views on the importance of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, click here.
