Dominican Republic Takes Landmark Step Adopting Global Antisemitism Definition

The Dominican Republic is set to become a cornerstone in the global campaign against antisemitism, with President Luis Abinader ordering the country’s foreign ministry to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

Announced during the sixth-annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Santo Domingo—sponsored by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM)—the landmark decision marks a significant milestone, positioning the Dominican Republic as the 48th country worldwide and the seventh in Latin America to embrace this universal standard.

The forum, which brought together political leaders, lawmakers from 19 Latin American nations, and international envoys, served as the platform for President Abinader to declare that antisemitism is a shared societal threat rather than a localized minority issue.

“Antisemitism is not a problem that concerns only the Jewish people,” President Abinader stated. “It is a threat to democratic coexistence and to the rights and freedoms of us all.”

President Luis Abinader addresses the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Santo Domingo, August 2026. (Combat Antisemitism Movement)

Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, praised the announcement, calling it a “historic moment” for the region. He urged other Latin American governments to follow the Dominican Republic’s example, framing the Trump administration’s domestic initiatives as a model for confronting hate on a global scale.

“In America, we have our marching orders,” Kaploun told the assembly. “We are holding universities accountable. We are prosecuting hate crimes. We have changed our visa vetting programs. We have withdrawn from major U.N. bodies that have promoted terrorism and antisemitism. We will lead by example, and we will take positive steps to protect every Jewish community.”

U.S. Special Envoy Rabbi Ambassador Yehuda Kaploun speaks to Latin American lawmakers at the Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Santo Domingo, August 2026. (Combat Antisemitism Movement)

The official adoption of the IHRA definition provides governments, law enforcement agencies, and academic institutions with a vital tool to identify contemporary forms of antisemitism. The definition describes antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, and specifically highlights manifestations targeting Jewish individuals, their property, and community institutions.

The accompanying practical guidelines address critical behaviors, such as Holocaust denial, spreading conspiracy theories regarding Jewish collective power, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel, and applying a double standard by singling out Israel among all democratic nations.

Examples of antisemitic vandalism highlight the urgent need for a standardized framework to recognize and combat hate-driven incidents globally. (Israeli-American Council)

The move is taking place against the backdrop of a sharp global rise in antisemitic events. The CAM Antisemitism Research Center documented 767 antisemitic incidents worldwide in March 2026, representing an alarming average of nearly 25 incidents per day and a 32.5% increase compared to March 2025.

By the end of 2025, more than 1,334 governments, public institutions, universities, nonprofits, corporations, and sports organizations worldwide had already adopted or endorsed the IHRA definition.

Global incidents, such as antisemitic posters held during protests in Alberta, Canada, underscore the widespread nature of the challenge. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via AP)

President Abinader emphasized that adopting the definition does not restrict legitimate political discourse or critique of specific governments. Rather, it acts as a protective framework that separates fair criticism from systemic hatred, all while upholding the Dominican Constitution’s guarantees of freedom of speech.

President Abinader also drew a deep connection between the Dominican Republic’s historic role as a sanctuary for Jewish people fleeing Nazi persecution—and the subsequent establishment of the welcoming community in Sosúa following the 1938 Évian Conference—and the nation’s current policy. To honor that heritage, his administration committed 50 million Dominican pesos to construct a new building for the Jewish Museum of Sosúa.

“As we build a new facility to preserve the memory of those who found refuge here, we fulfill our duty to ensure human dignity is respected without exception,” Abinader stated.

The formal adoption by the Dominican Republic adds significant momentum to the already high regional adoption rate, joining fellow Latin American nations Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay in utilizing the IHRA framework to protect citizens from hate.

Lawmakers from 19 Latin American nations gather at the Dominican Chamber of Deputies in Santo Domingo during CAM’s Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism, August 2026. (Combat Antisemitism Movement)

Concluding his remarks with a powerful call to regional action, President Abinader urged the region to reject indifference.

“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,” Abinader declared. “May this forum enable us to turn memory into education; education into prevention; and our principles into concrete action.”

For his part, Ambassador Kaploun delivered a direct message on behalf of President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, confirming U.S. readiness to back these regional initiatives: “America stands ready to support our friends in this effort to bring a new Latin America with religious liberty and freedom for everybody.”

President Luis Abinader (R) gestures during his annual report at the National Congress in Santo Domingo, February 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)

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