The European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) welcomes the decision of the Global Student Forum (GSF), the umbrella organization of the world’s major representative student’s federations from 118 countries, made at its Steering Committee Meeting on Friday 26th of February 2021, to pass a motion on combating antisemitism which includes the adoption of the non-legally binding International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

The Global Student Forum was founded by the All-Africa Students Union (AASU), Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA), European Students’ Union (ESU), Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU), Organización Continental Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Estudiantes (OCLAE) and other national student organisations and movements. Through its membership it currently represents 183 student unions from 118 countries. This is a vital step in the fight against antisemitism!

EUJS is delighted that such a step forward was decided upon and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate GSF on its adoption of both the motion and the IHRA definition.

Over the past weeks and months, EUJS has been in regular contact with GSF and its Steering Committee concerning the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and Shoah remembrance. 

In the resolution GSF notes, that “after a fruitful exchange with the EUJS – European Union of Jewish Students and the WUJS – World Union of Jewish Students on the occasion of the International Holocaust Memorial Day, the Global Student Forum adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism with all of the related examples.”

It has been a pleasure to work with GSF on this matter and we sincerely hope that other student unions, youth parties and organisations will follow their example in this regard, in adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

Going forward, EUJS would like to note that the adoption of the IHRA definition represents simply a first step in the process and so we plan to be in regular contact with our contacts at GSF to ensure that the adoption is carried out and acted upon.