LOS ANGELES (Press Release) — On the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, StandWithUs and the International Legal Forum (ILF) are proud to announce the launch of a new multimedia-based campaign, “Students 4 IHRA: United to Define It.”
This is a first-of-its-kind campaign to amplify the voices of students who are fighting bigotry on campus, using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. The IHRA working definition is the most respected and widely used definition of antisemitism in the world. Nearly all democratic governments and hundreds of civil society and educational institutions have endorsed it, including 138 universities worldwide. Now, students are coming together to say loudly and clearly, “The IHRA working definition of antisemitism speaks for us.”
The campaign will also educate and empower students with the legal tools, resources and skills to confront and combat the alarming rise of antisemitism on campuses around the world. The campaign website is a hub for information, multimedia and resources about IHRA, as well as practical tools and skills to respond to antisemitism. It contains a centerpiece “Unity Statement,” which invites students to add their names in support for the IHRA working definition:
“As Jewish students studying at universities around the world, the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism represents our voices and lived experiences. This definition reflects the many different forms of antisemitism we face across the political spectrum, empowering us to more effectively identify and respond to this hate. That is why its text is considered the ‘gold standard’ and has been widely adopted or endorsed by prominent Jewish organizations, over 30 countries to date, and a growing number of other respected institutions. Together, we are saying loud and clear: the IHRA definition speaks for us.”
ILF Chair and CEO Arsen Ostrovsky said, “With antisemitism surging on campuses, it is imperative that we do everything possible to support and empower students, who are on the front lines of this battle, with all the possible legal tools and resources, to confront this hatred and ensure they can enjoy a fully thriving life on campus.”
StandWithUs CEO and co-founder Roz Rothstein said, “We are proud to support courageous student activists around the world working to educate their peers about anti-Jewish bigotry and support their efforts to combat it. The Students 4 IHRA campaign has tremendous potential to empower students by showing widespread support for the consensus IHRA definition. We are behind them every step of the way. ”
StandWithUs and ILF are delighted to collaborate on this important campaign with partners including: Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), Students Supporting Israel (SSI), the Rimon Movement and media partner: ChallahBackGirls. We look forward to welcoming more partners in this joint mission to support students in the fight against antisemitism.
For more info, contact: Asher Stern (ILF) at asher@ilfngo.org and Elisa Alloul (StandWithUs) at elisaa@standwithus.org.
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Preceding provided by StandWithUs