Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism

As Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, Deborah Lyons will serve as a champion to support and enhance the federal government’s efforts to combat antisemitism here in Canada and internationally and to preserve Holocaust remembrance.

On this page

• Statements from Canada’s Special Envoy
• Mandate
• About Deborah Lyons
• Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism

Statements from Canada’s Special Envoy

Mandate

The mandate of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism stems from the commitments of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration, which include international and domestic components. This renewed mandate additionally takes into account the pledges our Government made at the National Summit on Antisemitism (July 2021) and at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism (October 2021). The Special Envoy reports to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for international responsibilities and the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities for domestic responsibilities. The Special Envoy may also provide advice to the Prime Minister and all Ministers, including the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Minister of National Defence, President of the Treasury Board, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Minister of Public Safety.

As Special Envoy, the mandate holder is Head of Delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and plays a leading role in Canada’s efforts to combat antisemitism and hatred abroad, consistent with Canada’s recognition that human rights are interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. This mandate includes collaborating with international partners to strengthen and promote Holocaust education, remembrance, and research worldwide, and advocating for a broader international adoption of the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism. The mandate also includes the ability for the Special Envoy to combat antisemitism abroad including through working with international partners such as other ambassadors and special envoys to combat antisemitism named by other countries.

The mandate holder supports efforts to combat antisemitism and hatred domestically, interacting with Canadian institutions and stakeholders to promote Holocaust education, remembrance, research and to encourage the adoption and implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism domestically.

Adopting a human rights-based approach, the Special Envoy will support the Government of Canada’s goal to protect human rights, and to advocate for and advance inclusive public policy and respect for diversity at home and abroad.

A. International role

To ensure alignment with relevant government policies, the special envoy works closely with, and is supported by, the Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion at Global Affairs Canada. The responsibilities of this mandate include:

1. Representing Canada at bi-yearly International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) plenary sessions and relevant ad-hoc IHRA meetings and engaging with the organization’s Permanent Office, Chair and international counterparts.
2. Working with other IHRA member states on Holocaust remembrance and antisemitism to advance existing efforts to strengthen and promote Holocaust education, remembrance, and research worldwide, and to uphold the commitments of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration and the 2021 Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.
3. Working in collaboration with IHRA members, other Special Envoys to the organization, ambassadors and other international partners to advocate for a broader understanding, adoption and implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and coordinate action internationally.
4. Engaging bilaterally and within the multilateral system, including with Canada’s Permanent Delegations to the United Nations, partners at the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Organization of American States and others, to strengthen global efforts to counter antisemitism and preserve Holocaust remembrance, representing Canada, where required by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at selected international high-level events.
5. Engaging with international organizations and civil society organizations in other countries, in coordination with Canada’s missions to those countries, to advocate in support of human rights and against antisemitism and other forms of exclusion and hate, and coordinate on strategies for collective action to counter these.
6. Promoting Canada’s international activities in support of Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism, including in the IHRA communication products and on official government communication channels (for example, official social media profiles and Government of Canada webpages), via a joint communications framework led by Global Affairs Canada and supported by Canadian Heritage.
7. Working in collaboration with other Canadian Special Envoys and representatives to promote inclusion and respect for diversity as part of Canada’s protection of human rights.

B. Domestic role

To ensure alignment with relevant government policies, the Special Envoy works closely with, and is supported by, the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Branch at Canadian Heritage. The responsibilities of this mandate include:

1. Providing guidance and advice to support the Government of Canada’s efforts to combat antisemitism and hatred in Canada as part of Canada’s broader Anti-Racism Strategy.
2. Working in collaboration with the Government of Canada, Canadian institutions and stakeholders to advance efforts to promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research.
3. Working in collaboration with the Government of Canada, Canadian institutions and stakeholders to uphold the commitments of the 2000 Stockholm Declaration and the 2021 Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.
4. Working with the Government of Canada, Canadian IHRA delegates and other domestic partners to advocate for a broader understanding, adoption and implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism in Canada.
5. Providing advice to relevant Ministers to inform the development of policies, legislative proposals, programs and regulations that address antisemitism and other issues that could adversely affect Jewish Canadians.
6. Promoting public awareness and understanding about Jewish communities in Canada by participating in commemorations and public event and contributing to the reframing of public narratives about Jewish Canadian communities and combatting stereotypes; this includes highlighting diverse and intersectional Jewish Canadian identities and the ongoing contributions of Jewish Canadians to the building and progress of Canada.
7. Proactively and regularly engaging on current and emerging challenges and issues to advance community-informed solutions, policies and actions with all types of diverse stakeholders in Canada, including, but not limited to, all of the various Jewish communities around the country; organizations representing different groups in Canadian society, including, but not limited to, organizations representing racialized and religious communities and Indigenous Peoples; other orders of government (provincial, territorial and municipal governments); and academia.
8. Working to actively promote an intersectional approach in the work of the Special Envoy by considering the complex lived experiences of Jewish people in Canada; this includes, but is not limited to, the following intersections: minority Jewish communities; racialized Jewish communities; small Jewish communities; women and girls; members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community; people with disabilities; youth and seniors; those living in rural and urban areas; and those with other social identities.
9. Promoting Canada’s domestic activities in support of Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism on official government communication channels via a joint communications framework led by Canadian Heritage and supported by Global Affairs Canada.

C. Reporting and objectives

The Special Envoy reports to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on international responsibilities and to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities on domestic responsibilities.

To enable strategic planning and policy coherence, the Special Envoy will submit a coordinated yearly work plan to both Ministers.

The Special Envoy will prepare an annual public report to both Ministers on key activities and achievements, which will include recommendations on how the Government of Canada can meaningfully combat antisemitism, domestically and internationally, and enhance Holocaust education, awareness and remembrance.

The Special Envoy may provide recommendations to both Ministers on possible future mandate items for the position.

About Deborah Lyons

Deborah Lyons is a diplomat with 25 years of experience in international relations, political affairs, security management, and development.

Ms. Lyons previously served as Ambassador of Canada to Israel (2016 to 2020), Ambassador of Canada to Afghanistan (2013 to 2016), and Deputy Ambassador of Canada to the United States (2010 to 2013). She also held several senior positions at Global Affairs Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Privy Council Office, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Prior to joining the Government of Canada, she owned and managed an environmental consulting firm.

From 2020 to 2022, Ms. Lyons served as the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. During this time, she spearheaded the UN’s support for peace efforts in Afghanistan, championed increased regional co-operation, led preparations for the successful 2020 Afghanistan donor conference, and oversaw the UN’s continued operations after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. She also advocated for measures to stabilize the region’s macroeconomic environment, which had been shaken by sanctions, facilitated sustained international engagement, and served as a strong and visible advocate for the rights of all Afghans.

For her work in Afghanistan, Ms. Lyons was recognized by the Community of Democracies with the Mark Palmer Prize during the 2019 UN General Assembly. This recognition is conferred by the non-governmental International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies to a diplomat who has employed bold and effective means to encourage states and assist civil societies to advance democracy and human rights.

Ms. Lyons holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of New Brunswick and completed studies at the National Defence College (now the Centre for National Security Studies).

Transcript

My name is Deborah Lyons, and I am Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.

While I wish that this role were not needed, the sad fact is that antisemitism is on the rise globally and here at home in Canada.

My mandate to preserve Holocaust Remembrance and combat antisemitism is one that includes an international and a domestic focus.

Here at home, I will advocate to combat antisemitism by working with Canadian institutions and stakeholders to promote Holocaust Education and remembrance, and to encourage the domestic adoption and implementation of the IHRA Definition of antisemitism. I will also of course provide recommendations to Ministers and decision makers to make Canada a safer home for the Jewish community.

Internationally, my role includes collaborating with international partners to advocate against antisemitism and to support all human rights, while working with other nations to strengthen and promote Holocaust remembrance.

I always knew this job would be difficult. But having been the Canadian ambassador to both Israel and Afghanistan, I don’t shy away from a challenge. However, when I accepted this job at the end of September, no one could have anticipated the horrors of October 7th.

The brutal Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7th have affected me deeply, and like so many of you, my heart carries an indescribable pain for the brutal killing of children, women, and men of all ages.

During my time as Canadian Ambassador to Israel, I spent years developing personal connections there, along with lasting and meaningful relationships. And unfortunately I, like so many of you, lost friends on October 7th.

And even more disturbing, while the Jewish community should be grieving and have the time to grieve, they are instead forced to grapple with new waves of alarming antisemitism here in Canada.

We witness it in the streets. We see it online. And we hear it, wrapped in chants and slogans that are like daggers to an already wounded and weary community.

And so, today, more than ever, I feel an immense sense of duty to work to combat all acts of hatred towards the Jewish community. We all know as Canadians that antisemitism is in direct contradiction to our shared values. L'antisémitisme est en contradiction directe avec nos valeurs canadiennes communes.

History has shown us the terrible and unspeakable things that happen when societies allow antisemitism to grow and exist. This is why we must collaborate to strengthen and promote Holocaust education and remembrance. And that includes working with Canadian schools and universities to highlight, and address, the rise of antisemitism on campuses.

Places of learning, most particularly our universities, should encourage civil discussion and debate on dissenting views, but absent of hate speech and intimidation.

As Special Envoy, I am working with law enforcement, educators, stakeholders, and governments of all levels to help foster an environment that rejects intolerance and embraces the principles of equality and respect for the Jewish community and all Canadians.

In my very short time in this role, I have travelled across Canada in order to connect with, and understand how Jewish communities are feeling in a post October 7th Canada. And I’m happy to say I’ve also recently been to Israel and I intend on going back very soon.

I have seen a lot of pain in the eyes of Jewish Canadians. But the Jewish community is one of incredible resilience. And I will work to highlight the significant contributions that our Jewish community has made – and continues to make - to Canadian society despite their small numbers. Of course, I am here for the benefit of all Canadians, and I need the involvement of all of you, as we build together toward a better Canada.

Nous sommes forts ensemble. We are always strong together. And always remember that never again is now.

Thank you and I look forward to talking again soon.

Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism

This Handbook is intended to clarify the IHRA non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism. The Handbook identifies and describes the different forms that antisemitism takes in Canada using contemporary examples, and informs the public on the practical application of the IHRA Definition. The content of the Handbook does not constitute a legal opinion or a legislative interpretation of antisemitism.

Read the Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.