WJC at UNHRC | World Jewish Congress Representative Calls for Elimination of Racial Discrimination

WJC took the floor to speak on the Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, urging the international community to keep it's promise and ensure Jewish communities worldwide are protected.

Read the full transcript:

Thank you Mr. President.

Sixty years ago, the world took a decisive step toward justice with the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Yet today, we must ask: have we truly fulfilled its promise?

The Jewish people know too well the cost of hatred left unchecked. From the horrors of the Holocaust to the persistence of antisemitism and racial hatred today, we are reminded that intolerance, if ignored, festers and spreads. Alarmingly, we are witnessing a sharp rise in antisemitism across the globe—in violent attacks on Jewish communities, in the resurgence of age-old conspiracies, and in the normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric, even in mainstream discourse. Synagogues, cemeteries, and Jewish institutions are being desecrated. Online platforms have become breeding grounds for antisemitic hate speech and disinformation, fueling dangerous ideologies that threaten not just Jews but the very fabric of our diverse societies.

This rise does not occur in isolation. It is part of a broader global surge in racism, xenophobia, and intolerance, and it is our collective responsibility to confront it with unwavering resolve.

Words alone are not enough. The World Jewish Congress calls on all states to fully implement the Convention and its commitments. Education must be at the forefront—teaching respect, historical truth, and the dangers of racial hatred. Governments must strengthen legal frameworks, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. Social media platforms must take stronger action against the spread of online hate.

Today is not only a commemoration but a call to action. Let us reaffirm that racism, antisemitism, and bigotry in all their forms have no place in our world. The time for pledges has passed—the time for concrete action is now.

Thank you.