GENEVA - Representatives of the World Jewish Congress took the floor at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva during its 52nd session to alert the international community of the rising antisemitism and libelous allegations against Israel across the world. The WJC also highlighted the joint international and interfaith initiatives it undertakes, as well drew the Council’s attention to pressing topics such as racism and xenophobia that hinder peaceful societal coexistence.
Among WJC’s 13 statements was a joint statement on the prevention of genocide together with IBUKA Suisse, representing the survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994.
WJC provided an opportunity to its affiliated Jewish communities around the world to take the floor at the Human Rights Council during the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reports of their respective countries in order to propose concrete measures on how to further enhance efforts to combat antisemitism and create a flourishing Jewish community.
The UPR is an HRC mechanism in which the human rights record of every UN member state is reviewed regularly. At this session, the senior leadership of the Jewish communities of Bahrain, Brazil, South Africa, United Kingdom and Finland delivered statements outlining human rights conditions in their countries and the Jewish community’s relationship with the government.
During the session, WJC announced an initiative to combat antisemitism through sports alongside top officials and representatives of leading European football organizations during an event on March 29th. At the event, speakers from the European Commission, UN Office of the High Commissioner, UNESCO and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA); UK Government Adviser on Antisemitism Lord John Mann; and representatives from a number of leading clubs, including Chelsea FC, Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Aris FC, reflected on the history of anti-hate initiatives in sport and discussed the value of partnerships among clubs, leagues, governments and the World Jewish Congress to fight hatred, in all its forms.
The forum was organized with the support of the UN missions of Argentina, Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, the European Union and UNESCO.
