Following reports of the involvement of a number of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employees in the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel – and sixteen UN member states pulling economic support from the agency – the UN commissioned a report, released this week, on the agency’s management and adherence to UN principles.
Press Releases and Statements
Find American Jewish Committee's latest press releases, official statements, and noteworthy announcements below.
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AJC Statement on the Second Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
New York, NY – February 23, 2024 – As the world marks the second anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked attack against, and its reported commission of widespread and systematic human rights violations and war crimes in, Ukraine, American Jewish Committee (AJC) and its Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights (JBI) reiterate their longstanding call for world governments to act collectively and individually to ensure a robust international response to and deter further grave violations by Russia in Ukraine and beyond.
AJC, 70+ Leaders Around the World Call for True Universality of Human Rights
Marking the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, American Jewish Committee (AJC) was joined today by more than 70 leaders from around the world in calling on the international community to recognize that “universal means universal.” The group comprises former government officials, interreligious leaders, and human rights and democracy advocates.
AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute, UN, Diplomatic Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Genocide Convention on 75th Anniversary
American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights (JBI) and the United Nations Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide brought together senior diplomats this week to mark 75 years since the signing of the Genocide Convention, including representatives from Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the event, several of the diplomatic leaders called for greater political will to confront ongoing signs that communities that have previously experienced genocide continue to face hatred and violence, noting rising global antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry.
Jacob Blaustein Institute Calls for Urgent Action to Respond to the Risk of Genocide in Darfur, Sudan
The Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights of American Jewish Committee has urged the U.S. and other nations to protect non-Arab groups facing a serious risk of genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and to bring an end to brutal attacks against them.
American Society of International Law Honors AJC’s Felice Gaer
The American Society of International Law (ASIL) has honored Felice Gaer, Director of American Jewish Committee’s (AJC’s) Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, with the organization’s 2023 Honorary Member Award. The award was presented to Gaer today at ASIL’s annual meeting in recognition of her “critically important contributions” to the development, interpretation, and implementation of international human rights law, including in the areas of prevention of torture, women’s human rights and freedom of religion or belief.
AJC CEO Ted Deutch Applauds Iran’s Removal From UN Commission on Status of Women
American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch praised today’s landmark vote by UN member states to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women, a subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). “We applaud the 29 members of the UN's ECOSOC who declared today that they will no longer allow Iran, a country that relentlessly persecutes women and girls, to serve as a member of the Commission on the Status of Women. Its immediate removal for the remainder of its 2022-2026 term corrects a grave mistake,” said Deutch.
AJC Applauds UN Human Rights Council Decision to Investigate Abuses in Iran
American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised the UN Human Rights Council’s decision to establish an “independent international fact-finding mission” on Iran that will “thoroughly and independently investigate” human rights violations committed by the regime in its deadly crackdown on escalating protests since September 16. “The Human Rights Council was created precisely for addressing the egregious human rights abuses the Iranian regime is committing with impunity,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Today’s Council decision reflects the international community’s outrage at the regime’s conduct, its commitment to listen to the brave Iranian people, and its determination to hold accountable those responsible for the pervasive violence.”
AJC Praises Countries Calling for UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Iran Human Rights Abuses
“The Human Rights Council has a responsibility to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its brazen, violent crackdown on its own citizens. The international community’s credibility is on the line,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “We salute Germany and Iceland for mobilizing 44 countries, including the 17 Council members required to ask Council President Federico Villegas to convene the special session on Iran.”
AJC Praises Countries Calling for UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Iran Human Rights Abuses
American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised Germany and Iceland for taking the lead in requesting a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council to address the Iranian regime’s deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters. “The Human Rights Council has a responsibility to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its brazen, violent crackdown on its own citizens. The international community’s credibility is on the line,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “We salute Germany and Iceland for mobilizing 44 countries, including the 16 Council members required to ask Council President Federico Villegas to convene the special session on Iran.”
AJC Praises Court Ruling Upholding Arkansas Anti-BDS Law
A federal court ruled that an anti-BDS law that required companies doing business with the state of Arkansas to sign a pledge not to boycott Israel was constitutional.
AJC Applauds UN Suspension of Russia’s Membership on Human Rights Council
American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauded the UN General Assembly decision to suspend Russia’s membership on the UN Human Rights Council. “Today’s momentous vote to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council is a principled action reflecting the grave concern shared by many governments about the gross, systematic violations of human rights that Russian forces have committed during the invasion of Ukraine,” said Felice Gaer, Director of AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights.
AJC Praises New York Decision to Disinvest in Unilever for Ben & Jerry’s Boycott of Israel
American Jewish Committee praised New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s decision to pull pension fund investments out of Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s. The ice cream maker announced in July that it would cease selling its products in the West Bank. “Comptroller DiNapoli has demonstrated that boycotting Israel has consequences,” said Marc Stern, AJC Chief Legal Officer. “Unilever’s failure to undo Ben & Jerry’s misguided decision to stop selling its ice cream in the West Bank contravenes state government laws across the United States.”
AJC Applauds New Jersey Treasury Department Action on Ben & Jerry’s
American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds the preliminary determination by the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s Division of Investment that Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company, Unilever, have engaged in a boycott of Israel. Under New Jersey’s 2016 law on Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS), state pension funds must divest from investments in any business that engages in boycotts of Israel.
AJC Applauds Burlington City Council for Rejecting Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Resolution
American Jewish Committee (AJC), the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, applauds the Burlington City Council’s decision to withdraw a non-binding resolution supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel. The resolution will be sent back to the Council’s Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee for further discussion.
New JBI Study Identifies Surging Global Antisemitism as an Urgent Human Rights Crisis
A new report by AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights (JBI) finds that antisemitic violence has increased in the two years since a landmark UN report on global antisemitism warned governments of its dangers.
American Jewish Committee Applauds Ben & Jerry’s U.S. Franchisees Letter of Concerns
Ben and Jerry’s franchisees in the United States are calling on the company to “re-examine and withdraw” its decision to stop selling its ice cream in the West Bank and its threat to discontinue operations in Israel. American Jewish Committee Chief Legal Officer Marc D. Stern praised the franchisees for their honesty and passion in directly communicating their concerns.
Top UN Expert’s Contributions to Fighting Antisemitism, Advancing Human Rights Lauded at AJC Global Forum
The remarkable achievements of Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, were recognized today at the American Jewish Committee (AJC) 2021 Virtual Global Forum in a conversation between him and Felice Gaer, Director of AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights (JBI).
AJC Applauds Cambridge City Council for Voting Down Boycott, Divestment, Sanction Resolution
American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds the Cambridge City Council’s rejection tonight of a resolution supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel and Hewlett Packard (HP).
AJC Dismayed By Court Ruling On Arkansas BDS Statute
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is disappointed by today’s United States Court of Appeals for Eighth Circuit decision in Arkansas Times v. Waldrip.