The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) held the fifth Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Río de Janeiro this week, co-organized by B’nai B’rith International.

Held from Oct. 11-14, the forum brought together members of Congress from 17 Latin American countries, along with religious leaders and grassroots activists, to combat anti-Semitism and push for legislative action in fighting discrimination worldwide. The Jewish community of Rio and city officials provided strong support for the event.

The forum opened with a tribute to the victims of Oct. 7 and took place during a significant moment for Israel and the Jewish people—following the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and coinciding with the long-awaited return of 20 living hostages to Israel. The forum also occurred on the same day U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset and signed a peace deal with other world leaders to advance peace in the Middle East.

Noted Spanish politician, journalist, writer and lecturer Pilar Rahola delivered a keynote address at the opening session, emphasizing the persistent nature of anti-Semitism: “On October 7th, civilization got a brutal knock down, but after two years, it is clear to me that anti-Semitism is a disease that will not end or diminish due to a ceasefire because the disease has always been there.”

Throughout the forum, several key panels addressed critical issues in the fight against anti-Semitism. A panel on Holocaust education explored the importance of teaching about the Shoah in combating contemporary hatred. Another session focused on the work of legislatures across Latin America in confronting and fighting anti-Semitism.

B’nai B’rith Director of Latin American Affairs Eduardo Kohn introduced and moderated a panel on discrimination laws and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. Kohn underlined that the IHRA definition is accurate in defining the brutal rise of anti-Semitism across Latin America. He stressed that the IHRA definition clearly demonstrates why it is appropriate to identify as anti-Semitic the behavior of Latin American presidents who have insulted Israel by comparing its defense against terrorism to “Nazi behavior,” emphasizing that “this heinous behavior will never be forgotten.”

The panel featured Organization of American States Special Envoy for Monitoring Antisemitism Fernando Lottenberg, who explained the importance of the IHRA definition in facing the brutal rise of anti-Semitism in the region; Washington Abdala, former Uruguayan ambassador to the OAS, lawyer, professor and columnist, who underlined that a ceasefire in the Middle East will not end Jewish hatred in the region; and Franco Fiumara, federal Argentine judge, who discussed the importance of approving trials in absentia for the criminals who perpetrated the 1994 AMIA (Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building) terrorist massacre.

B’nai B’rith has participated as an active partner in all five Latin American Forums Against Antisemitism.