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René Cassin works to promote and protect universal human rights. Any disregard for, or breach of, human rights is a concern regardless of where the offence occurs and by whom the offence is committed. However, as a UK-based organisation, we concentrate our efforts on areas where we can make a meaningful and measurable difference. Our work is rooted in UK domestic human rights concerns, including refugee and asylum rights, safeguarding human rights protections for rights of marginalised communities and fair access to ‘everyday rights’. We do not seek to comment on every international matter. Israel has not been a focus of our work, as there are numerous well-established organisations within Israel that possess the expertise, local insight, and proven track record to address human rights concerns effectively.

As a Jewish human rights organisation that draws on Jewish values and Jewish history, we feel strongly about the responsibility we hold as ‘speakers by experience’ and therefore as champions of minority rights and the fundamental values of tolerance, compassion and justice, as reiterated again in September 2023, when the risk increased for the understanding of Judaism and Jews as being a tolerant, compassionate and inclusive people and faith.

In response to the horrific attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and the war that followed, we launched the René Cassin – AJA International Law Series to provide opportunities for thorough legal analysis of the complex international legal issues that apply to the Israel-Hamas conflict and provide a platform for expert voices. Since its launch, we have delivered seven sessions, attracting well-respected speakers who are experts in their fields. These have explored a range of issues, including the enforced disappearance of the Gaza hostages as a form of torture under international law and Artificial Intelligence in the context of war.

We aim to continue to be a source of excellent legal analysis on developments from an international humanitarian and human rights law perspective, the dilemmas that arise from them and issues of accountability and justice.  

  1. A statement issued the week after the attacks, Israel: A Statement from René Cassin – René Cassin (renecassin.org)
  2. A message to our supporters in October reiterating our commitment to protecting human rights What happens when the Jewish voice for human rights finds itself speechless? – René Cassin (renecassin.org)
  3. An online event with Professor Yuval Shany on the applications of human rights law in international armed conflicts with the two case studies being the war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza
  4. A second statement six months into the war and the increasing humanitarian crisis in Gaza Israel/Gaza Statement – René Cassin (renecassin.org)
  5. 7th October: one year, one statement

International Law

  1. Webinar: “ICC Arrest Warrants against Israeli Leaders” – featuring Prof. Irwin Cotler and Prof. Yuval Shany (November 2024)
  2. Israel-Hamas War Archives – Just Security
  3. Wanted – with special guest Yuval Shany – Unholy: Two Jews on the News | Podcast on Spotify (on the International Criminal Court and the May arrest warrants).
  4. Diakonia – International Humanitarian Law Centre  
  5. Yuval Shany: The Application of Human Rights Law in International Armed Conflicts (youtube.com) (René Cassin event, February 2024)
  6. Gisha – Legal Centre for Freedom of Movement –  Legal Opinion: Israel’s status in the north of the Gaza Strip – Gisha
  7. In honour of Yoram Dinstein – Co-application of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law: Some takeaways from the Ukraine and Gaza wars
  8. The René Cassin International Law Series, which explores different aspects of IHRL and IHL as they apply to Israel, Hamas and the war in Gaza.
  9. JUSTICE – the legal magazine of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists

Sexual Violence in Conflict

  1. #Me_Too_Unless_UR_A_Jew
  2. Mission Report – Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (February 2024)
  3. How Hamas Weaponised Sexualised Violence on Oct. 7 – The New York Times
  4. Testimony from Israeli hostage held by Hamas – Israeli Hostage says she was sexually assaulted and tortured in Gaza – New York Times

UK Jewish Community Response

  1. Our Jewish Values I Responding to this Conflict
  2. Yachad
  3. New Israel Fund UK
  4. UK Lawyers for Israel – Briefing Notes on the War in Gaza
  5. Office of the Chief Rabbi
  6. Standing Together