The UN, created in the aftermath of the World War II Holocaust in which six million Jews were killed, has worked to counter anti-Semitism.
But the 193-member global organisation has been accused of being anti-Semitic, including by US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for UN ambassador, New York representative Elise Stefanik.
Donald Trump's nominee for UN ambassador Elise Stefanik has accused the UN of being anti-Semitic. (AP PHOTO)
Stefanik is pro-Israel and has called the UN a "den of anti-Semitism" that she intends to confront.
The UN Action Plan to Enhance Monitoring and Response to Anti-Semitism focuses on strengthening and co-ordinating work throughout the United Nations but includes recommendations for governments and organisations.
Miguel Moratinos, the head of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, which developed the plan, said he was alarmed at the surge in anti-Semitic incidents online and offline, citing attacks on synagogues and religious sites - including after the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and other militants in southern Israel, which resulted in the worst killing of Jews since the Holocaust and set off the war in Gaza.
"Unfortunately, our efforts, like those of national governments, have not been sufficient to curb the drivers of anti-Semitism," he said.
Moratinos said new actors involved in social transformations in technology, science and the economy must be mobilised "to address online and offline hate speech while upholding human rights".
"The — UNAOC - United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (@UNAOC) @UN has long worked on addressing #antisemitism. Building on the numerous efforts undertaken by the UN over past decades, this Action Plan aims to ensure an even more coordinated & effective response to counter antisemitism." 🔗 Full remarks:https://t.co/eFosd8FBHE pic.twitter.com/FGFMvtuzaaJanuary 17, 2025
The UN plan calls for establishing a working group to monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and measures to address anti-Semitism in the United Nations.
It includes training for all UN personnel on anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial - and how to fight them.
Outside the UN, the plan encourages governments and organisations to denounce anti-Semitism swiftly and enhance education about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism.
It also encourages "zero tolerance policies" for anti-Semitism.
"The challenge now lies in putting the plan into practice," ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the US special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a joint statement.
"The UN must demonstrate its full commitment to its human rights mandate and take concrete steps that will lead to tangible progress," the outgoing ambassadors said.
29°C