Written Statement - Welsh Government has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism

As part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing commitment to tackle antisemitism, I can confirm that we have now adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

The IHRA definition is as follows:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

I want to make it absolutely clear that antisemitism in any form will not be tolerated.

The IHRA definition will help all organisations and bodies in Wales to understand and recognise contemporary antisemitism. This will help to ensure that fewer perpetrators get away with being antisemitic. The 4 police forces in Wales are already using the definition.

To further embed the use of the definition within the Welsh Government, I have asked my officials to:

• arrange training about antisemitism, initially for Welsh Government officials and potentially then for external stakeholders
• look to use Hate Crime Awareness Week and all year round communications as a platform to ensure key messages about antisemitism reach our communities across Wales
• work with Victim Support Cymru to ensure that their recording system will be able to flag antisemitic hate crimes and incidents.

The Welsh Government is committed to encouraging victims of antisemitism to report it. We will work with our partners to protect and support victims of antisemitic abuse and violence and hold perpetrators to account.

The Welsh Government is determined to ensure that Wales continues to be a friendly and tolerant place to live, study and work; a country where antisemitism has no place.