Toronto (May 6, 2021) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) and B'nai Brith Canada commend Canada for publicly declaring its refusal to participate in the upcoming Durban IV conference.

Prominent Liberal Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather confirmed the news on his Twitter account. The conference will be commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 2001 UN World Conference on Racism that turned into an anti-Jewish and anti-Israel hatefest.

The announcement comes one day after the two organizations called on the Canadian government to disavow the Durban IV conference and publicly affirm its refusal to participate.

"By publicly stating it will not participate in Durban IV, Canada is making it clear that it stands against the ugly antisemitism and anti-Israel hate the conference is known for," said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, Director of Policy at FSWC. "We commend Canada for its principled position and for joining other countries, including the U.S. and Australia, in boycotting the upcoming conference."

“We’re very encouraged to see that the government is adhering to its own values and maintaining the standards of its past record of boycotting the profoundly flawed Durban process,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “Antisemitism must never be dismissed or ignored, no matter what forum it’s coming from.”