Colombia adopts the International Definition of Antisemitism
Colombia has adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.
The Definition was signed into law by Colombian President Iván Duque. This was witnessed by Dina Siegel Vann, the Director of the Arthur Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs at the American Jewish Committee.
According to Ms Siegel Vann, President Duque said that he was adopting the Definition “as a means to reject antisemitic practices and discrimination against the Jewish people” in the acknowledgment of the contribution that Jewish people have made to Colombian society.
There has been a Jewish community in Colombia since the Spanish colonisation of South America. This included the people known as Marranos, Spanish Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity during the Middle Ages but who continued to practice Judaism in secret.
In the 21st century, there are between 4,500 and 5,500 Jews living in Colombia, making up less than 0.01% of a total population of over 50 million.
Britain was the first country in the world to adopt the International Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism and Lord Pickles worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street. Colombia joins a growing list of national governments and public bodies to use the Definition.
Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.