UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
57th Regular Session
Item 9 General Debate.
Joint Statement on Combating Antisemitism
4. October 2024
Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and my own country, Austria, with the support of a cross-regional group of countries.
Since the last year, starting with the brutal terrorist attack conducted by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Israel on 7 October 2023, there has been an alarming increase in antisemitism and other forms of racial and religious hatred, both online and offline. We have witnessed an escalation of antisemitism around the world, with Jewish individuals and communities facing physical and verbal attacks, harassment, isolation and marginalization. Jewish homes and institutions have been vandalized. Jewish students have been excluded on campuses; antisemitic discourse online has reached alarming levels; people are attacked for showing their Jewish identity.
Antisemitism, racism and all related intolerance and hatred pose a serious threat to human rights, democracy, the rule of law and peaceful coexistence. They undermine the very fabric of our societies. We are also worried by instances of Holocaust distortion and all kind of disinformation, which is a breeding ground of antisemitism.
In today's interconnected and rapidly changing world, where deep-seated divisions and conflicts impact our societies, reconciliation is a cornerstone for building lasting peace. True reconciliation, however, is not an easy journey. It requires listening to each other, peer-to-peer learning, empathy and tolerance.
Today we pledge to reinforce our common efforts to apply collective and concrete actions throughout the entire UN system in order to fight antisemitism, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and other forms of intolerance, including on the grounds of religion or belief to build more peaceful and inclusive societies.
I thank you.