Unless addressed domestic and Global Trends and recommendations for the commission. This is two hours. Good afternoon. Please come and take your seats. We are ready to begin. We are ready to begin our hearing. Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for attending todays hearing on global efforts to counter antisemitism. I would like to thank our distinguished witnesses for joining us to offer their expertise and recommendations and also would like to thank senator mentioned in his office for securing this room for us today. The u. S. Commission on the freedom or religious freedom, is an independent bipartisan u. S. Government advisory by created by the 1998 International Religious freedom act or front. The commission monitors the universe right to freedom of religion or belief abroad. We then make recommendations to congress and the president of the United States and to the secretary of state. Todays will gathered you are considering, houston is exercising Statutory Authority on the law to give me considering. Also very grateful to have with us this afternoon, senator jackie rosen of mata. Shes a tireless advocate working to confront antisemitism in all of its forms. She is also the cochair of the Senate Bipartisan task of course. For combating antisemitism in senator rosen, thank you very much for being here today. And for your commitment to the issue and the floors not yours. Thank you so much for having me and for bringing everybody here today on this very important topic and issues which we are going to talk about. So again i am thinking the u. S. Commission an International Religious freedom for holding the supported hearing. I think all of you and all of the other participants who why not be with us today, for providing crucial insight to this important topic. Im senator jackie rosen, and i am proud to represent the great state of nevada. In the United States senate. What am also incredibly proud to hold the distinction of being the third jewish woman in the United States senate and the first former synagogue president elected to the United States senate. [applause]. Streaming as my synagogue news president , and now streaming as the United States senator, but have been the greatest blessing of live. They been blessings that have allowed me to connect and to serve my community with tradition and commitment for the things that i not only care about what they care about as well. And we can make progress for all of our communities for our country in the nation in the world. Right now though, no issue threatens our progress more than the alarming lives of antisemitism in our country and around the world. Weve seen the rise of antisemitism and political movements across youre up. This is been going on for sometime now now. And i somatic groups, the organizing Political Parties in places like greece, and a great in france. Ive witnessed increasing anti somatic in poland, and the uk. And now, this hatred has reared its ugly head right here at home. In our country. We only have to look at the news to see depraved individuals right here in the United States wanted their dangerous and hateful use. Feeling emboldened to take violent action. Missing all of this and unfortunately, some of us, having been experienced at an inn in charlottesville and synagogues in pittsburgh, and most recently, and a ribeyes home. He was celebrating and lighting live of hanukkah. Its a festival live in the guests there, met with terror and darkness on something that is supposed to illuminate us. The festival of live. These are not isolated incidents. These incidents are part of the dark and dangerous trend. We are all deeply affected by anti somatic violence and ex of hate, is listening entered into, and unfortunately, is it too many dead. Must be ready to act in to to do our part to combat antisemitism. This epidemic has been on the rise since we know, and must be taken seriously. Antisemitism acts of hate, they are growing at an alarming rate. Earlier this year the state department called the rise in antisemitism worse than it has been in decades. As impact go far beyond the Jewish Community. The report to congress, the state department offered this morning. History is shown that we are ever antisemitism has gone unchecked, the persecution of others has been president or not far behind. Defeating antisemitism must be a cause of great importance. Not only for jews, for all people who value humidity and justice. [applause]. Antisemitism is also a direct threat for religious freedom for all people of all faiths across the globe the state is unacceptable and it is something that we must come together to call out and confront headon. We can only tackle this if we do soak together, we do so with a clear purpose. Last year, helped launch the first ever Senate Bipartisan test of course for combating antisemitism. Alongside our counterparts in the house, these bipartisan groups are dedicating themselves to presenting antisemitism before it starts. Together with my cochair, james langford, and over 30 a look senator news both sides of the aisle, 17 democrats and 17 republicans, so far, i am working on getting all of them. We are working together to take on one of the most Disturbing Trends of our time. On a tight semitism and bigotry occur, it is critical that we do not allow ideological or partisan thinking to blur our perspective of what is right and what is wrong. Because combating hate, is always and must always stay a non partisan issue. [applause]. As members of congress, it is our responsibility to our neighbors and to friends and to our children. To eradicate this evil. In this task of course allows us to collaborate with Law Enforcement. Federal agency state and local governments, educators advocates, clergy, and any other stakeholders, to educate and to explain, to empower every Single Community across this nation. To have the tools to combat antisemitism and all other forms of hate. For also looked working, it state Department Special envoy monitoring and committing by some antisemitism. [applause]. In on with us today. [applause]. I was going to tackle these issues you wrote. In the middle east. And around the world trade these are challenging times. In a great darkness, is all of the more important that we been together to the community, a sneak country, and is he congress to hold up our faith and our values a sneak beacon of live that will illuminate our path forward. Allah may seem that the world is in disrepair, i have unwavering faith in the capability of juice, and nonjews alike to do their part to prepare the world to help ben with the world. To take care of one another and to promote religious freedoms, and to diminish eight did so ill call to action, is this to keep educating, keep believing, keep up the fight against hate by encouraging those around us to help repair the world and see the the world leave it a better place than how you found it. For ourselves and for our children and for our future. As we say from generation to generation, this is our call. This is what many must do. And i am proud to have started this day and being a partner with all of you. Thank you. [applause]. Senator rosen thank you. Thank you for being here in your work and we appreciate your time its been with us today. They really set the foundation as we have our first hearing for the year, this is the topic we chose. As you will hear today, from for some of our expert witnesses this information we have been coming through in a echo the senator, this is the issue that affects so many of us. It is you may hear area, the canary in the coming would it comes to religious persecution and we wouldbe negligence, a sneak nation and a sneak commission to ignore what is happening around us. Would i like to recognize commissioner gary bauer for an opening statement. Thank you mr. Chairman. As luck would have it, remarks will building on what i think the senator just said. Its the reason i asked the chair if i can have a moment to express his thought. This is the u. S. Commission on International Religious freedom. So will supposed to focus on what is happening around the world. Seems to me is he little bit of a challenge or that we need to confront. If we are identifying antisemitic problems around the world and not squarely acknowledging what is been happening and the United States. We have witnessed the horror of antisemitism of the tree of live synagogue and hallway. Weve seen antisemitism grow American University campuses. We have watched orthodox jews, being assaulted in the streets of new york city. We heard antisemitic statements right here in the halls of congress. I have watched in horror a sneak christian, is it mainline churches have passed resolutions singling out democratic israel for special condemnation. While ignoring countries like north korea and iran and syria. And they do this in the name of my savior, jesus christ, a sneak christian, that outrage is outrageous me. [applause]. These church bureaucracies, did not speak for americans christians. So i have humble suggestion to make in the centers have already alluded to it. It was not permit in antisemitism to become a political football in the United States. If someone on the right to engage us in antisemitism, those of us on the right, should aggressively confront the individual. As antisemitism comes from the progressive left, the first responsibility to deal with it comes from the leaders of the progressive movement. We should boldly get it out of their movement. If it is in somewhere in america and is teaching the attendings the most to hate jews, then peace loving muslims, to speak up and confront him. And i semitism is he deadly virus and it should have no home anywhere in american cultural or political line pretty thank you mr. Chair print come back thank you commissioner bauer know i recognize the first vice chair, commissioner mansion. Thank you chairpersons and thank you commissioner bauer for your work. I want to join everyone and welcoming those of you to join us here today. We often hear about this resurgence or global uptake in a tight semitism and how things are looking increasingly grim for the Jewish Community and unfortunately, 2019 was sadly no different. The attack on the synagogue and germany during yom kippur, the holiest day on the jewish calendar is arguably the most during incident of violence against the Jewish Community abroad this year. Last year. And we are now in the new year. In the gunman chose attack on yom kippur, knowing, that the number of people in the building wouldbe higher than usual on this holy day. He repeatedly shot at the boers lock and set off an explosive device and but thankfully was unable to breach the building due to the enhanced security measures that the synagogue recently installed. The sad part is that that had to be done. In the United Kingdom several members of the labor party on the leadership of their carbon have made numerous insights somatic comments. And Conspiracy Theory in the spring. To the extent that only seven of the Parliament Members have left the party. In february of 2019, hussey symbols adorn any faith in the Jewish Cemetery in eastern france. The in italy, police are assigned to aroundtheclock guarding of an 89 yearold woman was both a holocaust survivor and the senator in the italian parliament. After she proposed a National Commission to battle hatred and bigotry. On a significant number of incidents, we hear about in the news have occurred you wrote, the truly is he global phenomenon. In argentina, vandals desecrated the Jewish Cemetery with nazi symbols in february. In a separate occurrence, in june, three was shouted antisemitic insults on an argentinian rabbi. Handyman had an album and through him to the ground and trampled his hat. Before the fleet. In kenya, intruders attacked a rabbi and his wife during a rabbi and a jewish in center. Before robbing and stealing many items from that center in april. Eight through antisemitic insults at them and soul many things. In saudi arabia, textbooks and espousing file stereotypes and hatred against jews, continued throughout to be used in schools throughout the country. And in australia, authorities recorded at least two incidents in 2019 of nazi graffiti aimed at intimidating the Jewish Community there. As you can see from just a handful of examples and unfortunately, the storage of antisemitism is alive and well. As varied and wideranging forum in medicine for station. Look forward to hearing the recommendations from our witnesses on how the United States government can better address the rise in antisemitism around the world and how the International Community can more effectively in sure the global Jewish Community can worship freely and that went out fear. Thank you. [applause]. That went out backup, i like to now turn to our panelists. We have experts from around the globe that are with us here today and will very grateful for the time that they have made to join us for this hearing. We vest them to distill their remarks to five to six minutes each because we have a lot of area to cover. Their bios are available, you get a he of that isle that we will handing out as they were coming in because they are certainly experts on this topic. And as moisture mention, we not only want information, our purposes not just to talk about the problem. Although that is a part of our mission. We want to develop the action steps and so what we have asked those that are joining us today to help us in the policy recommendations that we would make. Beginning with the first panel, some is mandate special repertoire and freedom of religion or belief on november 1st, 2016 with United Nations but we are grateful for the work that he has done and he briefed us on a report that we just recently released which in many ways, was a catalyst for the hearing we are having here today. I would recommend that report to you know im certain he will give us an overview of that. Doctor shed thank you so much for being with us today. Thank you. Its an honor for me to be here this afternoon at this very important hearing. I am mandated as counsel to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom and belief. And to examine incidents that night compatible with the provisions in the legal to protect its rights including declaration of this Commission Based on legitimate things. Consequently, i presented my report to the u. S. Assembly on the global phenomena some of antisemitism. And right of freedom and beliefs of jewish persons bundled wide. The report was meant a sneak wakeup call about three frequency of antisemitic incidents and progressiveness which appeared to be increasing. And in several countries, documented online expressions. In the report noted the evidence of an tight semitism attitudes and risk of violence against jewish individuals around the world. Because of time, i want to focus on the the key recommendations that are made in this report. I argue taking human Rights Problem because number one. Its an obligation to protect jewish members. Its not a favor, its right. An obligation to fulfill. That is why argue for human expressed approach. Second, nondiscrimination. All individuals are equal dignity and therefore we have an obligation to defend. Third, although they why not demand sincerity. Jewish members commit attacks, is obligation upon all of us to stand up in support of the person. Infidelity. In the key to what i called for my report include a call to all for working definition of anti senate semitism. And the examples offer valuable guidance. Including for those working in Law Enforcement. One must know what one is trying to protect. A sneak working definition. By the ira. I also argued that the president s responsibility for commission states, including the political and 70s. As such, freedom of belief and having the ability of members of all racism beliefs. And configured openly, legal footing society. Governments must antisemitism threats, for security and antisemitic incidents, our response from leaders. Should be based on upon the commission of the high crimes, and position to respond on International Human rights law. The Committee Also has the rights and ensuring that Broad Coalition approach innovating and combating antisemitism. They can support governments in providing independence expert advice and on the prevalence and mystification of antisemitism. They can play an Important Role in various ways in which an tight semitism can be along with messages on human rights and society at large. In support government jewish communities where and how to report decisions for they also most display themselves, for an tight somatic attitudes. Social Media Companies to protect reports about the seriousness and in service. The must allow for the hate messages and provide more transparency that they have be been. And to offer userfriendly for reporting content. Should also report the antisemitic behavior online to deliver to the agencies including expressions hostility, or violence. And lastly in october, i called the general to pointing a senior loophole person in his live office. His responsibility for engaging in worldwide. Monitoring antisemitism and the threads of the response of the un. In the whole nation. Various entit