The Dominican Republic has formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, signaling a significant step in the nation's commitment to combating hate. President Luis Abinader announced the decision, making the Dominican Republic the 48th country globally and the seventh in Latin America to embrace the IHRA framework.
Speaking at the Combat Antisemitism Movement-sponsored annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Santo Domingo, President Abinader stated that antisemitism poses a threat to democratic coexistence and the rights and freedoms of all, not just Jewish communities. He emphasized that the decision would provide a framework for identifying and combating antisemitism while upholding freedom of expression and constitutional rights.
U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, praised the move as a "historic moment" and encouraged other Latin American governments to follow suit. He highlighted the Trump administration's efforts in the U.S. as a model for confronting antisemitism, citing actions such as holding universities accountable, prosecuting hate crimes, and revising visa vetting programs.
The IHRA working definition, adopted by its member countries in 2016, describes antisemitism as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews." It includes rhetorical and physical manifestations directed against Jewish or non-Jewish individuals, their property, or community institutions and religious facilities. The definition is intended to assist institutions in identifying and responding to contemporary forms of antisemitism.
As of the end of 2025, 1,334 governments, institutions, and organizations worldwide had adopted or endorsed the IHRA definition. The Dominican Republic joins Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay in Latin America in adopting the definition.
President Abinader also announced a commitment of 50 million Dominican pesos toward constructing a new building for the Jewish Museum of Sosúa, aiming to preserve the history of Jewish refugees who settled in the Dominican Republic after fleeing Nazi persecution in 1938. He framed the decision as a reaffirmation of the country's commitment to Holocaust memory and the eradication of antisemitism.
Rabbi Kaploun indicated that the United States is prepared to support regional efforts, conveying a message from President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that America stands ready to assist partners in the region in promoting religious liberty and freedom.