Board of Deputies welcomes IHRA adoption by the Office for Students

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has welcomed the announcement by the universities regulator, the Office for Students (OFS), that it is adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism.

This is the result of a series of engagements between the OFS and the Board of Deputies that has also involved the Union of Jewish Students (UJS).

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: “This is a welcome step by the Office for Students. It shows a commitment by the regulator to lead by example. We have long called for universities to adopt this definition as it is a helpful guide to interpreting and explaining contemporary antisemitism. They should now follow the OFS’ lead and do so without further delay.”

UJS President Hannah Rose said: “UJS welcomes the decision by the Office for Students to adopt the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism. We can only fight antisemitism when we are able to accurately define it in its contemporary form. We now call on other HE bodies, universities and students unions to mirror this adoption and work with us to eliminate antisemitism from UK campuses”

You can read the Office for Students announcement here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/promoting-equal-opportunities/student-safety-and-wellbeing/our-position-on-antisemitism/