Wiesenthal Center at the III World Forum on Human Rights

March 23, 2023

Buenos Aires - The III World Forum on Human Rights in Buenos Aires, organized by UNESCO and the Argentine Human Rights Secretary, focused on the 40th anniversary of the recovery of democracy.

Countless activities and conferences were part of the Forum, but it was noteworthy that the Human Rights Secretary, a member of the Argentine Chapter of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), included a presentation called "The IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism: An Appeal Against Freedom of Thought?”

Since, 2016, the IHRA definition  is a valuable instrument that helps to confront hatred against Jews in the world.

Opponents of its adoption brandish “free speech” to cover up anti-Semitic discourse, matching extremes of the ideological spectrum and making hate ambidextrous.

The Wiesenthal Center, continuing it’s work of attending international forums to establish a position in defense of Jewish dignity, participated with the Association of Jewish Lawyers of the Argentine Republic (AAJRA) on a panel on "The Role of Rights Humans in the Fight against Anti-Semitism”.

(Dr. Ulanovsky (L) and Dr. Gelblung (R))

The Secretary of the Association, Dr. Agustín Ulanovsky, referred to the historical struggles for dignity and that "the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a response to the damage to humanity caused by the Shoah." In turn, he highlighted the work of Raphael Lemkin and Simon Wiesenthal.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center Director for Latin America, Dr. Ariel Gelblung, described Argentine history in relation to anti-Semitism. A country that gave refuge to the Nazis, that during the civic-military dictatorship was particularly cruel to the Jews, that had university professors who taught the Andinia Plan (the ridiculous Jewish conspiracy to create a Jewish state in Patagonia) and suffered two terrorist attacks terrorist (1992 against the Israeli Embassy and 1994 against the AMIA Jewish Mutual), became one of the most advanced nations in the fight against hatred of Jews after 40 years of democracy.

“The fight against anti-Semitism since the democratic recovery has become a constant policy, regardless of the party that governs,” he concluded.

Finally, there was a recognition of the relatives of Jewish lawyers and law students who were victims of the 1976-1983 military dictatorship.

For further information, please contact Dr. Ariel Gelblung at +54 9 11 49695365, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations 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).