Dominican Republic Adopts Global Antisemitism Definition

The Dominican Republic is taking a stand against hate with a decision that leaders hope will inspire nations across Latin America.

President Luis Abinader announced Monday that his country will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism. The move makes the Dominican Republic the seventh Latin American nation to embrace this framework for identifying and responding to discrimination.

Abinader made the announcement at the annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Santo Domingo. He ordered the country's foreign ministry to formalize the decision immediately.

"Antisemitism is not a problem that concerns only the Jewish people," Abinader told the conference. "It is a threat to democratic coexistence and to the rights and freedoms of us all."

The timing matters. Global antisemitic incidents jumped 32.5% in March 2026 compared to the previous year, with monitoring groups tracking nearly 25 incidents per day worldwide.

The IHRA definition helps governments, universities, and law enforcement agencies recognize contemporary forms of hatred. It covers everything from Holocaust denial to conspiracy theories about Jewish power, providing clear examples without restricting free speech.

Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. special envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, praised the decision as a "historic moment." He urged other Latin American governments to follow the Dominican Republic's example.

"What you have witnessed tonight is a government standing up for what is right," Kaploun said. "There cannot be any compromise with antisemitism."

The Ripple Effect

More than 1,334 governments, universities, nonprofits, and organizations worldwide have now adopted the IHRA definition. The framework gives communities consistent tools to respond to hatred while respecting constitutional protections for free expression.

Abinader emphasized that adopting the definition doesn't mean taking sides in political conflicts. Instead, it declares that nothing justifies hatred, discrimination, or violence against any community.

The president connected the decision to his country's history of welcoming Jewish refugees during World War II. That legacy of protection continues today with this formal commitment to fighting hatred in all its forms.

"Through this decision, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to the memory of the Holocaust, to the protection of Jewish communities and to the eradication of antisemitism in all its forms," Abinader said. "Human dignity is indivisible and its defense admits no exceptions."

Countries choosing to stand up for dignity prove that progress happens one decision at a time.