What is the Special Envoy?
The special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism works on behalf of the secretary of state to implement policies and projects to combat antisemitism, working closely with foreign governments, international organizations, and civil society.
Additionally, the special envoy coordinates and assists in developing reports on antisemitism recorded within the State Department’s annual Human Rights Reports and International Religious Freedom Report.
Position Required by Law
Under the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004 (22 U.S. Code § 2731), the secretary of state is required by law to appoint a special envoy. The secretary of state is also required to establish and maintain an Office to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism, to be led by the special envoy.
Accomplishments of the Special Envoy During Past Administrations
- Demonstrated U.S. leadership and commitment to combating global antisemitism.
- Improved the safety and security of at-risk Jewish communities, and helped relocated individual Jews who faced physical threats.
- Actively promoted the adoption of a working definition of antisemitism by European Union institutions, multilateral organizations, governments, and local police forces and prosecutorial offices to effectively combat antisemitism and streamline hate crime data collection.
- Urged European governments and multilateral institutions to establish a point person or coordinator to combat antisemitism.
- Partnered with Congress, Jewish NGOs, human rights NGOs, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to push back against Holocaust revisionism in Eastern and Central Europe, and in specific to prevent Hungary from erecting a statue honoring a notorious World War II antisemite.
- Worked to remove antisemitic material in Arabic-language textbooks and antisemitic books and propaganda from book fairs and media outlets in the Middle East.
- Engaged the Catholic Church, specifically the Bishops Conferences network, to speak out against antisemitism in Latin America.
