Torrelodones has become the first Spanish municipality to formalize the adoption of the definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Mayor Almudena Negro signed the agreement with the president of the Jewish Community of Madrid, Estrella Bengio, in an event underscoring the local commitment against intolerance.
During the signing, Estrella Bengio highlighted the importance of public administrations like the Torrelodones City Council taking a proactive role in preventing discrimination and antisemitism. She expressed hope that this gesture would inspire other municipalities to follow suit.
The mayor recalled legal precedents, such as the judicial annulment of a boycott motion against Israel in Rivas Vaciamadrid in 2016, and noted that similar initiatives have been dismissed by the courts in over 57 other municipalities.
The IHRA's definition of antisemitism, agreed upon in 2016 and adopted by over 45 countries and 1,266 international organizations, was embraced by Spain in 2020. With this ratification, the Torrelodones City Council commits to fostering inclusive spaces, monitoring signs of hatred, and promoting initiatives for human rights defense.
The agreement also includes promoting awareness of the IHRA definition and integrating it into the municipal code of conduct to eradicate antisemitism.
