AJC Salutes OSCE Declaration on Anti-Semitism

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Dec 08, 2014, 02:48 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC salutes the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for adopting a new declaration on combating anti-Semitism at its Ministerial Council Meeting in Basel, Switzerland. The declaration—which required consensus approval of all 57 participating states—was one important outcome of the high-level meeting in Berlin in mid-November that brought together over 500 government representatives and civil society leaders. That event was organized to mark the tenth anniversary of the OSCE's Berlin Conference and Declaration on Anti-Semitism, but it took on added urgency following the surge of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe during the summer.

The new declaration reaffirms some of the most important elements of the earlier document, including the message that "international developments, including with regard to the situation in the Middle East, never justify anti-Semitism." It goes on to commit governments "to investigate effectively, promptly, and impartially acts of violence motivated by anti-Semitism and prosecute those responsible." It also calls on political leaders and public figures to speak out strongly when anti-Semitic incidents occur, and asks for increased efforts to monitor and collect data on hate crimes.

AJC's Director of International Jewish affairs, Rabbi Andrew Baker, also serves as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism. At the closing session in Berlin last month he called on governments to follow up on their individual statements of concern by adopting a formal declaration at the Ministerial Council. Swiss Confederation President Didier Burkhalter presented a draft declaration when OSCE foreign ministers met in Basel, which ultimately won approval.

The OSCE Berlin anniversary event also featured a daylong civil society forum that was co-chaired by AJC's Berlin Director, Deidre Berger, who presented a detailed list of recommendations to the assembled plenary.

Speaking at its conclusion, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who will assume the chairmanship of the OSCE in January, promised to give continued priority in the coming year to the problem of anti-Semitism. He also used the occasion to announce his intention to reappoint Rabbi Baker to serve as his Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism.

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SOURCE American Jewish Committee