Call for Special Envoy to combat antisemitism

The Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation, Aotearoa New Zealand supports the recent call for the appointment of a special envoy to combat antisemitism. A media release by New Zealand Jewish Council and the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand stated it is time for New Zealand to get “serious about battling the world’s oldest hatred – antisemitism.  We call on the government to appoint a special envoy to combat antisemitism and work with envoys internationally to rout out this scourge in Aotearoa New Zealand”.

The release points out that special envoys have been appointed by UK, USA, Canada and numerous European nations including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Sweden. Holocaust Foundation agrees that it is time for New Zealand to do likewise.

Also cited was a recent survey of Jewish parents of school-aged children. “A staggering 80% of respondents said their children had suffered antisemitic episodes in their schools.  This was an increase in the survey results last year when just over 50% of the parents who completed the survey said their children had been subjected to antisemitism in school since October 7th 2023.”

We urge the New Zealand government to heed the call for the appointment of a special envoy.