The Dominican Republic has become the 48th country globally to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, marking a significant step in the fight against hate.
In a landmark decision, the Dominican Republic is set to become the 48th country worldwide and the seventh in Latin America to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. This move follows an order from President Luis Abinader to the country’s foreign ministry to formalize the decision.
The announcement was made during the annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism, sponsored by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, held in the capital city of Santo Domingo. Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, praised the Dominican Republic’s decision as a “historic moment” and urged other Latin American governments to follow suit.
During his address, President Abinader emphasized that antisemitism is not merely a concern for Jewish communities but a threat to democratic coexistence and the rights of all citizens. “Antisemitism is not a problem that concerns only the Jewish people,” he stated. “It is a threat to democratic coexistence and to the rights and freedoms of us all.”
This announcement comes amid rising global concerns over antisemitism. The Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Antisemitism Research Center reported 767 antisemitic incidents worldwide in March 2026, averaging nearly 25 incidents per day and reflecting a 32.5% increase compared to March 2025.
Rabbi Kaploun highlighted the significance of the Dominican Republic’s decision at the conference, asserting that it represents a government standing up for what is right. “There cannot be any compromise with antisemitism,” he stated, adding that the Dominican Republic would lead by example and take positive steps to protect Jewish communities.
Kaploun pointed to the efforts of the Trump administration in the United States as a model for other nations to confront antisemitism. “In America, we have our marching orders,” he said, noting that the U.S. is holding universities accountable, prosecuting hate crimes, and revising visa vetting programs to combat antisemitism.
The U.S. State Department has utilized a working definition of antisemitism, along with guiding examples, since 2010. The IHRA’s current non-legally binding definition was adopted by member countries in 2016. It describes antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews,” and includes various manifestations directed against Jewish individuals, their property, and community institutions.
The IHRA definition aims to assist governments, law enforcement agencies, and educational institutions in identifying and responding to contemporary forms of antisemitism more consistently. Examples of antisemitic conduct include Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories regarding Jewish power, and holding Jewish people collectively responsible for the actions of Israel.
As of the end of 2025, 1,334 governments, public institutions, universities, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and sports organizations worldwide had adopted or endorsed the IHRA definition, according to data from the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Antisemitism Research Center.
President Abinader clarified that rejecting antisemitism does not equate to taking a stance on specific governments or conflicts. “It means stating unequivocally that no political disagreement, no cause, and no circumstance can justify hatred, discrimination, or violence against an individual or a community,” he said.
He further stated that the IHRA definition would provide a framework for the Dominican Republic to identify and combat various forms of antisemitism while respecting freedom of expression and other rights protected by the Dominican Constitution.
Through this decision, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to Holocaust remembrance, the protection of Jewish communities, and the eradication of antisemitism in all its forms. “Human dignity is indivisible, and its defense admits no exceptions,” Abinader remarked.
The president also connected the decision to the Dominican Republic’s historical role in providing refuge to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. Following the 1938 Évian Conference, hundreds of Jewish refugees established a community in Sosúa, where they were able to rebuild their lives. To commemorate this history, Abinader announced a commitment of 50 million Dominican pesos toward constructing a new building for the Jewish Museum of Sosúa.
Once the Foreign Ministry formalizes the decision, the Dominican Republic will join Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay as Latin American countries that have embraced the IHRA framework. This decision adds to the growing regional acceptance of the definition and could set a precedent for additional Latin American governments considering how to formally identify and address antisemitism.
Abinader concluded his remarks with a call for regional action: “From this land, which at different moments in its history has offered refuge and hope, let us send a firm message throughout Latin America and the Caribbean: Indifference must never prevail in the face of hatred.” He expressed hope that the forum would enable participants to turn memory into education, education into prevention, and principles into concrete action.
Rabbi Kaploun framed this regional effort as one that the United States is prepared to support, representing President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in delivering a direct message to Latin American leaders: “America stands ready to support our friends in this effort to bring a new Latin America with religious liberty and freedom for everybody,” he said, according to Fox News.