GENEVA - Members of the World Jewish Congress Jewish Diplomatic Corps, Danny Mofsowitz (South Africa), chairperson of the SAJBD Gauteng Council and member of the SAJBD National Executive Committee, and Yaakov Chaliotis (UK), recently joined the WJC Geneva Office to bolster advocacy efforts at the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The JDs engaged in strategic diplomatic meetings, interactive dialogues, and high-level events, emphasizing key human rights objectives and combating antisemitism.
Danny Mofsowitz delivered powerful statements highlighting the imperative to protect religious freedom and prevent genocide. On freedom of religion, she stressed, “Recent months have witnessed an alarming surge in antisemitism, affecting personal safety and religious freedom. A comprehensive international response is urgently needed.” In her address on genocide prevention, Mofsowitz poignantly stated, “History shows that dehumanization leads to genocide. We must leverage technological advances to ensure hatred has no place in our future.”
Yaakov Chaliotis engaged in diplomatic outreach from February 24 to 28, strengthening relationships through strategic meetings with ambassadors from Argentina, Montenegro, Malta, and Austria on pressing issues such as advocating for human rights, combating antisemitism, and ensuring global stability.
During the UNHRC High-Level Segment, member-states such as Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary voiced their strong opposition to Hamas’s October 7 attacks and emphasized the urgency of releasing all hostages held in Gaza. Slovakia condemned Hamas’s brutality and linked it to the rising wave of global antisemitism, underscoring the need for international action against extremism. Austria reaffirmed its commitment to combating antisemitism and securing Jewish communities worldwide. Hungary, meanwhile, addressed the issue of bias within the Human Rights Council, calling out the disproportionate focus on Israel and advocating for a more balanced approach to human rights discussions
Additionally, Chaliotis attended key events focused on press freedom, notably "Journalists Under Fire," a high level event hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, emphasizing the urgency for global solidarity and protection for journalists as vital pillars of democracy.
The World Jewish Congress strategically engages with country dignitaries to strengthen diplomatic relations, advocate for human rights, combat antisemitism, and ensure global stability. By fostering collaborations within the international community, the WJC promotes justice and equality while addressing issues such as the Israel-Gaza conflict and religious freedom and combating extremism.
