GIIA: Global Initiative to Counter Islamophobia and Antisemitism
The Global Initiative for Countering Islamophobia and Antisemitism (GIIA) is an innovative project designed to address the roots of Islamophobia and antisemitism—twin challenges that continue to shape our world. Drawing on years of collaborative work across disciplines and communities, GIIA offers a framework for understanding these forms of racism not as isolated problems, but as interconnected issues woven into the fabric of our societies. Inspired by a spirit of inquiry and mutual recognition, GIIA encourages us to see beyond familiar boundaries, inviting dialogue that is both critical and compassionate.
Efforts to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism have traditionally been addressed separately, with distinct organisations, policies, and definitions tailored to each form of discrimination. While these targeted approaches reflect the unique challenges each community faces, GIIA examines how these forms of hatred intersect and identifies opportunities for collaboration and shared solutions—without diminishing the distinctiveness of each struggle. The initiative is grounded in the belief that confronting prejudice requires both rigorous analysis and the imagination to envision new possibilities for solidarity and justice. This work is applied through a whole-of-society approach, reflecting the standard in human rights practice that meaningful change requires engagement across all sectors of society.
By fostering dialogue, critical analysis, and practical cooperation, GIIA aims to support more effective responses to contemporary manifestations of both forms of discrimination, while maintaining sensitivity to the distinct needs of each group. This approach is complemented by efforts to identify gaps and opportunities, offering tools that support existing initiatives and frameworks, and foster mutual respect and solidarity.
The Granada Declaration of Principles for Combatting Islamophobia and Antisemitism
The GIIA initiative bases its framework on the principles of the Granada Declaration of Principles for Combatting Islamophobia and Antisemitism — a set of carefully crafted principles developed through consultative meetings by researchers, academics and policymakers with specialised expertise and experience in combatting antisemitism and Islamophobia.
The principles were developed during the 4th Annual Roundtable on Combatting Islamophobia and Antisemitism, held in Granada, Spain, in April 2025, with New Ground Research preparing the final formulation. The GIIA operates on the foundational premise that struggles against Islamophobia and antisemitism are interconnected and should never be pitted against each other – though they can and often are addressed separately, with distinct, context-specific interventions.
Guiding Principles
At its core, the Granada Declaration is built on several foundational premises:
Islamophobia and antisemitism are interconnected struggles that should never be pitted against each other.
Both forms of racism are deeply rooted in historical discrimination and are amplified by contemporary political and social developments.
Context-specific interventions are essential, recognising that while these challenges share commonalities, they also manifest differently.
Combatting these forms of hate requires coordinated action across civil society, academia, government sectors, and international organisations.
Rejection of weaponisation: Both Islamophobia and antisemitism must not be weaponised for political purposes or used to silence legitimate discourse.
The Granada Declaration can be viewed here
Implementation & Partners
New Ground Research encourages organisations, institutions, governments, and civil society groups to integrate the Granada Declaration principles into their work. The Declaration serves as a guiding framework for all GIIA initiatives and partnerships.
For more information about the Granada Declaration or to discuss implementation strategies, please contact our team.
