Frequently asked Questions

No. Our supporters, staff and interns come from variety of backgrounds. All we ask is that you support our mission.

You can make a donation, come to an event, campaign for us or volunteer in some way.  More information about all of these options can be found on this page, or contact us to learn more.

The CCJO is René Cassin’s parent body.  Founded by René Cassin in 1946, the CCJO facilitates our access to Inter-Governmental Organisations (IGOs), such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

In light of ongoing proposals for judicial reforms in Israel, the views expressed by certain members of its government, and the immediate risk these pose to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, the Board of René Cassin has taken the extraordinary step of issuing the following statement:

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—co-drafted by our namesake, French Jewish jurist Monsieur René Cassin. The Declaration was conceived in response to the horrors of the Holocaust and represents a global commitment that such atrocities must never be allowed to happen again.

For the first time, humanity agreed on a universal statement of ethical principles affirming the “inherent dignity… of all members of the human family” as the foundation of justice and peace—an ethical vision for a new world built on social progress.

The Declaration stands in stark contrast to the ‘crimes against humanity’ prosecuted at Nuremberg. The ghettos and camps that imprisoned, enslaved, and ultimately murdered millions gave rise to Articles 3, 4, and 5, which protect the rights to life, liberty, and freedom from torture. Jews—alongside Roma and other communities—were stripped of citizenship, robbed of property, and denied access to state infrastructure. In response, Articles 15, 17, and 19 enshrined rights to nationality, property, and freedom of expression.

Monsieur Cassin always maintained that human rights spring from the same roots as Judaism:
“Human rights are an integral part of the faith and tradition of Judaism. The belief that man was created in the divine image, that the human family is one, and that every person is obliged to deal justly with every other person are basic sources of the Jewish commitment to human rights.”

The international human rights framework is Cassin’s legacy—a legacy founded on values of tolerance, fairness, compassion, and justice, which are also at the heart of Jewish faith and culture. These values have shaped Jewish history for two millennia: destruction when they were denied to us, survival and prosperity when they were upheld.

Seventy-five years after the creation of the Universal Declaration and the founding of Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state, this legacy is under threat.

The principles embedded in the Declaration are codified worldwide in instruments such as the European Convention on Human Rights, the Refugee Convention, and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. This legacy of the Holocaust is one the world should cherish—but too often forgets. Understanding these treaties as a demand for a world that not only says but means “never again” is essential. Likewise, principles of the rule of law, separation of powers, and protection of minorities from the overreach of majority rule must be viewed through the lens of the Holocaust as historical proof of their necessity.

The proposed judicial reforms in Israel threaten to dismantle crucial checks and balances by overhauling the judiciary and weakening protections for minority groups and non-citizens. These proposals—underpinned by troubling notions of Jewish supremacy—pose a grave threat to Jewish moral and ethical traditions. They contradict our historic role as champions of minority rights and jeopardize the fundamental values of tolerance, compassion, and justice we hold dear. They risk undermining Israel’s vision as a Jewish and democratic state and endanger global perceptions of Jews and Judaism as a tolerant, inclusive faith and people.

For those who believe in tolerance, equality, and justice—and who understand the responsibility of carrying the human rights legacy of the Holocaust—this is a historic crossroads.

We recognize that we face a radical emergency, a crisis for the Jewish people. We therefore call for the immediate cessation of all steps that endanger the core values of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

[1] This legacy was also shaped by other Jewish scholars, including Polish Jewish lawyers Hersch Lauterpacht (who codified crimes against humanity) and Raphael Lemkin (who defined genocide), among many others.

René Cassin works across the Jewish community to achieve our vision of a world where everyone fully enjoys all their human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We acknowledge the rich diversity of the British Jewish community and seek to work with individuals and groups from the whole spectrum of the Jewish community. Supporting human rights is a thoroughly Jewish concept that transcends any denominational or ideological division.