Support René Cassin – Explore ways to donate

        

Professor Sir Nigel Rodley – 1 December 1941 to 25 January 2017

25 Jan, 2017 | Campaigns, Latest, News, Protecting Human Rights in the UK

Share with others…

It was with very great sadness that we heard of the death, earlier today, of Professor Sir Nigel Rodley. Nigel was a great friend to René Cassin as an organisation, giving freely of his enormous experience and wisdom as a member of our Advisory Council.

Amongst highlights in a long lifetime as a human rights advocate were his membership of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and his Presidency of the International Commission of Jurists. The enduring value of his work was recognised in 1999 when he was knighted ‘for services to human rights and international law’.

Danny Silverstone, Chair of René Cassin’s Trustee Board, said today: 

“This is indeed very sad news. Nigel was a towering figure within the international human rights world. He was also an extraordinarily nice man.”

René Cassin Trustee, Alex Goldberg adds:

“I have spent the last year working with Sir Nigel Rodley on a book about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In that short time I found myself in the presence of real gentleman and a giant in terms of his understanding of human rights. 

He has left a huge impression on me and I shall miss him, as will the millions of those who depended on his good offices. His life was one in the service of humanity and the world is a lesser place without him in it.”

 

Read more about Nigel’s life and work:

 

Today, 10th December, is International Human Rights Day – the 76th anniversary of the signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. 

 

 

The Declaration was a reaction to the horrors of the Holocaust. So, for Jews, today has a particuar significance. 

Although rooted in response to atrocity, the Declaration was forward-looking and optimistic. It spoke for the majority of people who knew a better world was possible. The fact that it’s co-author , the French-Jewish lawyer Monsieur Rene Cassin, could draft such a hopeful document so soon after 26 members of his family were murdered by the Nazis is a testament to his humanity and the power of human rights in general. 

Today, as the organisation that works in Cassin’s name, we are determined to ensure his Declaration’s vision of human rights for all is fully realised. Central to that work is a focus on so called ‘socio-economic rights’ – rights to everyday essentials like food, housing and health. 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’.

Bolstering these rights would ensure everybody has access to the foundations on which to build a dignified, prosperous and meaningful life. They have been neglected for too long.

 

Let’s stay in touch!

We are constantly developing our campaigns, planning events, and cultivating discussions on Human Rights issues, sign up for our email updates and we’ll keep you informed on all we are working on and how YOU can get involved.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for regular updates, notifications and to be part of our online discussion