WJC at UNHRC │Italy's Jewish Community President Thanks Government, Warns of Threats to Religious Freedom and Democracy

During Italy’s Universal Periodic Review at the 59th session of the 2025 UN Human Rights Council, Ms. Noemi Di Segni, President of the Union of Jewish Communities in Italy, delivered a statement on behalf of the World Jewish Congress. She expressed gratitude for the Italian government’s efforts to combat antisemitism, while warning of rising threats posed by political radicalization and growing challenges to religious freedom.

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Representative delivering the statement: Ms. Noemi Di Segni

Dear President, Distinguished members,

I am Noemi Di Segni, President of the Union of Jewish Communities in Italy. We are the body that represents Italian Jewry and, of course, trying to highlight all its special and uniqueness from ancient time to the challenges that we are facing today.

The future of Jewish communities depends not only on their own dedication, tradition and studies, but also on unprecedented violence, discrimination and antisemitism.

We thrive for peace and pray for the end of the wars that will restore hope and coexistence. We believe in projects that promote cultural sharing, interfaith dialogue and, at the same time, I sadly acknowledge that freedom of religion does not exist anymore, it is threatened.

We are grateful to the Italian government and the most relevant Ministers for their engagement and attention to fight this situation, especially in these hard months, and avoid easy slogans, double standards and appeals to kill and deny Jews and Israel.

We have three criticalities:

1. The populist and left parties that at the end legitimize radicalization and hatred, without understanding that this is what is happening.

2. The use of Judaism and the conflict as a way to manage political dynamics.

3. Communication barriers using concepts that in the Middle East have a significance, thinking that it is so easy to act for our civilization to other parts.

Our call is to Italians is to understand that existential risks for Jews and Israel are a direct, negative sign to all Italy and its democratic safeguards and not only a “Jewish problem” to pity or watch at distance.