Dominican Republic Adopts IHRA Antisemitism Definition and Plans Jewish Museum

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader announced at the sixth annual conference of the Latin American Coalition Against Antisemitism (CAM) in Santo Domingo that his government will soon adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. This move makes the Dominican Republic the seventh Latin American country to embrace the IHRA framework, joining Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay.

Speaking before hundreds of policymakers and leaders, Abinader emphasized that antisemitism is not solely a Jewish issue but a threat to democracy and freedoms for all. He instructed the Foreign Ministry to formalize the decision. Additionally, the president pledged 50 million Dominican pesos (approximately 250,000 shekels) to build a new Jewish museum in Sosúa.

The US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, praised the decision as a historic moment. The conference, which began Sunday and includes legislators from 16 countries as part of the Regional Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, will conclude with the participation of Dominican Foreign Minister Victor Bisonó.

Participants released a declaration reaffirming their commitment to eradicate antisemitism, strengthen democracy, and support Israel across Latin America. They called on regional, national, and local authorities, businesses, civil society, and NGOs to adopt zero-tolerance policies against hatred, including legislation and enforcement on social media. The declaration highlighted the IHRA working definition as the most effective framework to identify modern antisemitism and urged Latin American countries to adopt and promote it.