Wiesenthal Center Applauds Uruguay's Decision to Combat Anti-Semitism Adopting IHRA`s Working Definition

January 27, 2020

Buenos Aires and Paris, January 27

According to the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the best way to commemorate the Shoáh and its victims is to contain contemporary antisemitism.

Thus Uruguay has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, an organization to which they are an Observer.

“Remembering the dead and honoring the survivors is important, but it is not enough to avoid new forms of violence, manifestations of hate and discrimination. The IHRA`s working definition of anti-Semitism is an instrument to detect antisemitic activities even when those who carry them out do not identify themselves as such and provide the States and institutions the ability to cut them at the root,” said Dr. Ariel Gelblung, Wiesenthal Center`s Latin American Director.

Dr. Shimon Samuels, Director for International Relations of the Centre, cited its mission statement "draws the lessons of the Holocaust to combat current discrimination, xenophobia, racism and antisemitism", concluded: “We applaud the decision of Uruguay, which sets an example for all Latin America. The entire Latin and Caribbean bloc should show solidarity in adopting the working definition and also join IHRA. A region that granted refuge to many Nazi criminals is obliged to battle antisemitism as state policy. ”

For further information, contact Shimon Samuels at csweurope@gmail.com or Dr. Ariel Gelblung at +54 9 11 49695365,
 join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal @EZuroff for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).