The EJC, represented by Mike Whine MBE took part in a round table discussion with UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Dr Ahmed Shaheed, organised by the Parliamentary Committee Against Antisemitism and the Antisemitism Policy Trust, in the UK Parliament in London. The event was hosted by John Mann MP.

The meeting was part of many consultations conducted by UN Special Rapporteur Dr Ahmed Shaheed across Europe in preparation for the upcoming report on antisemitism to be presented at the UN General Assembly on 21 October 2019. The Report will focus on freedom of religion and racism, aiming to trigger a debate and essentially its adoption.

The roundtable discussion focused on diagnosing the problem of antisemitism in Europe today, assessing its impact on the rights of Jews and freedom of religion or belief, and identifying the political and legal responses to this issue.

Participants presented good practices and discussed ways to tackle rising antisemitism across Europe.

The recommendations and conclusions of the meeting will be incorporated in the report that is scheduled to be finished by end of July. Moreover, Dr Shaheed will include in the report the appointment of a senior focal point on combating antisemitism within the UN structures and the possible adoption of the IHRA Working Definition.

Among the participants were also Dame Margaret Hodge MP; Andrew Percy MP; Sally Sealey, Chief of Staff to UK Envoy on Post Holocaust Issues; Gillian Merron, Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews; Prof. David Hirsch, Proffesor at Goldsmiths College, London University; Mark Gardner, Director of Communications at CST; Danny Stone, Director of Antisemitism Policy Trust.

You can find a more information about the report here.