Welcome to the Human Rights Shabbat resource pack 5785 (2024). Human Rights Shabbat is an annual event celebrated on the closest Shabbat to International Human Rights Day, marked on December 10, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948.
Our namesake, Monsieur René Cassin, is often referred to as the ‘father’ of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He believed that it was possible and necessary to create an environment in which an all-powerful state would no longer be able to trample on the rights of the individual without consequences. Rights were universal and applied to all individuals.
The vision and legacy of the Declaration were also designed to address the need and opportunity to enshrine and strengthen social and economic rights as crucial for ensuring world peace and prosperity. This vision was best articulated in Article 25 of the Declaration:
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
As the organisation named after him, René Cassin is in a unique position to make the case for stronger socio-economic rights in the UK, arguing for the realisation of the Declaration’s original vision. And while the terminology may seem new, the values underlying socio-economic rights are deeply embedded in Jewish texts and practices. Our understanding of socio-economic issues is grounded in principles of security, dignity, and responsibility.
To help communities, groups, and individuals mark this year’s Human Rights Shabbat, we have produced the Let’s Make the Case for Socio-Economic Rights, where you will find useful information for defining socio-economic rights, how our Jewish faith and tradition reference these ideas and suggestions for of suggestions for engaging, reflective, and meaningful learning opportunities, suitable
for both adults and youth. You can download the pack HERE.
To sign up for Human Rights Shabbat 5785 and receive further information, simply reply to libi.sears@renecassin.org and register your interest.
