COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM – CALL FOR WRITTEN EVIDENCE

About the Commission on Antisemitism

The Board of Deputies of British Jews’ Commission on Antisemitism has been launched a year following the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel and subsequent war in the Middle East, which has seen a dramatic rise in antisemitism in the United Kingdom. The Commission on Antisemitism is being Co-Chaired by Lord John Mann and former Secretary of Defence Penny Mordaunt.

The Commission is investigating the rise of Antisemitism in the UK and will make far-reaching recommendations which will also encompass a comprehensive review of hate crime legislation and policing and prosecution, including public order and safety. It will encompass a sector-by-sector review of the failings in civil society since 7 October 2023, whether in the media, social-media, schools, academia, workplaces, trades unions, sport and culture.

It will also make recommendations on how best to tackle extremism, whether from Islamist sources, the far-right or far-left, and will investigate how interfaith work, training and education can be scaled up.

The Board of Deputies is inviting people to make written submissions, to showcase evidence of antisemitism in British society and/or provide robust recommendations for how antisemitism can be tackled by government, prosecutors, social media companies, educational institutions, trade unions, or other stakeholders. We welcome submissions from organisations and individuals that have been affected by or have dealt with antisemitism in the UK since October 7th. Submissions may also include examples of implementation of good practice.

In communications and publications for the Commission, reference may be made to organisations, groups, or societies that we have consulted with. Please state in your submission if you wish to be fully anonymised.

Guidelines for submissions

If you would like to submit evidence, please follow the following guidelines for submissions:

  • A letter addressed to Lord John Mann and Penny Mordaunt. In the introduction, please state clearly which organisation, company, institution or stakeholder(s) is addressed in your submission. Please submit as a pdf document.
  • Submissions that focus on quantitative and qualitative evidence, such as survey results and case studies, are encouraged.
  • Evidence and recommendations relevant to at least one of the following four strands of focus of the Commission:
    • Review all hate crime legislation, policing, and prosecutions, to ensure we have the toughest possible framework in place for offenders.
    • Pursue means of addressing the failings in civil society since 7th October, whether in the media, online, universities, the workplace, professional bodies, unions, culture, or sport.
    • Tackle the threat of extremism from Islamists, the far right and the far left, to Jews and wider UK society, including both active terrorist groups and those who sow hatred and division.
    • Boost education, training, and interfaith outreach to defeat ignorance and antisemitism.

The letter should be sent to antisemitismcommission@bod.org.uk. In your email, please give contact details for a relevant person in your organisation.

The deadline for submissions is on the 18th of February 2025. For any further questions, please contact Victoria Lisek at victoria.lisek@bod.org.uk.

 

 

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