Glen Eira City Council is the first Local Government authority in Victoria to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism in its entirety. Council has written to all councils in Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria, encouraging them to adopt this definition.

Council now calls on all political parties, universities, other public bodies and organisations to also adopt the definition and use it to better understand and act against anti-Jewish hatred.

The key statement from the IHRA definition is: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

Council is committed to ongoing actions, events and initiatives which celebrate diversity and contribute to a socially cohesive community. The definition will be used to strengthen efforts to oppose antisemitism and racism. The definition will continue to be publicised in in media releases, on Council’s website and social media.

Council will continue to reject racism in all its forms through its commitment to the Together We Stand statement, developed in partnership with the Anti Defamation Commission in 2019. The Reporting Racism Tool is hosted on Council’s website and actively encourages the community to report any incidents of racism through this site directly to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Council is also a member and supporter of the Racism — It Stops with Me campaign to stand against racism and act for positive change.