Motion on Antisemitism proposed by EUJS – adopted by the European Youth Forum

On the 24th Of November, during its General Assembly in Novi Sad, Serbia, the European Youth Forum passed the motion, “Combating Antisemitism: Young people’s responsibility” and adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism!

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. It is the biggest youth body in the world and represents 104 youth organisations, which bring together tens of millions of young people from all over Europe.

These 104 organizations are composed of two categories: 41 National Youth Councils and 63 International NGOs.

Each of these National Youth Councils represents dozens of student and youth organizations on the local level; each International NGO, similar to EUJS, is in turn an umbrella for organizations across the continent.

By accepting the motion, the European Youth Forum

Adopts the IHRA working definition of antisemitism

Commits to address instances of antisemitism among lay leadership, secretariat an member organizations

Encourages all its 41 National Youth Councils and 63 International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations to adopt and apply the IHRA working definition of antisemitism

Commits to provide opportunities for educational trainings on antisemitism to member organizations

Encourages alliances in youth organizations be it value based, youth branches of the political parties or national youth councils.

What does this mean?

It means that, if a Jewish student on campus experiences antisemitism, the largest youth organization in Europe now has a mandate to take action!

It means that student and youth bodies across Europe can take inspiration on how to take a stand against antisemitism themselves.

It means that EUJS can serve as a resource for member organizations to learn how to better understand and tackle antisemitism.

It means that the European Youth Forum claimed its space at the forefront of the fight against antisemitism.

Thank you to our co-sponsors: The Austrian National Youth Council (OJV), the British National Youth Council (BYC), the German National Youth Council (DNK), the Young European Federalists (JEF) and the Youth of European Nationalities (YEN).

The European Union of Jewish Students wishes the best of the luck for the newly elected board of the European Youth Forum and its newly elected President, Carina for their work for the next two years.