What is your Seder night like? Does your father or grandfather sit at the head of the table and lead the telling of the exodus? Do you remember our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Do you discuss what the four sons have to say?
What about the righteous women?
by Michael Goldin, Coordinator of the Detention Jewish Visitors Group On Sunday 1st March I attended an event to mark the yatrzheit of a friend of mine, Amir Siman-Tov, who died in Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre in 2016. The event was put together by Jewish Solidarity Action who organise to promote equality, justice and anti-racist […]
by Moses Seitler, Education and Community Engagement Officer at René Cassin A summary of most Jewish holidays is they tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat! Purim follows this basic and brilliant structure, but there may be more to it than that. On a closer reading, the book of Esther and the practices of […]
by Sheldon Stone The UK government’s decision (28 January 2020) on future of Huawei, as a leading telecommunications provider in the country, undermines the UK’s long and celebrated tradition of defending human rights at home, and abroad. The tech giant’s world-class connectivity comes at the expense of the Uyghur people. Huawei has actively participated in […]
The theme of Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 is: ‘Stand Together’. While not a panacea in itself, there is a definite case for subscribing to such an approach, provided we remain mindful of certain facts. From a Gypsy Traveller perspective, which you are entirely free to disagree with, it is worth emphasising a couple of key […]
Alice Akca reflects on her internship at René Cassin at th end of 2019, and looks outlines her hopes for the organisation in 2020
Today marks 71st anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention against Genocide and World Genocide Day, established by the UN, to commemorate and honour the victims of genocides and call for the prevention of the crime. Central to the prevention of genocide is the establishment and protection of human rights, the legacies of our […]
With just over a week left until polling day, we have been thinking about what the future holds for human rights in the UK. We have read through the manifestos to see what each party says about some of our campaign areas. We have summarised our key findings below, or you can read a more […]
by Alice Akca, René Cassin Intern “The majority of modern slavery victims in the UK are from the UK.” This statement, presented to us by Caroline Barnard, Communications Officer, from The Clewer Initiative at our first workshop, was one of multiple surprising facts offered to us that evening. We often view modern slavery as an […]
On 25 September, René Cassin hosted 30 JLGB volunteers for training on leading human rights education for their groups.
Kate Green MP: “Hatred of one group is hatred of us all.”
Intern Alice reports on the gendered aspect of modern slavery and suggests possible solutions.
By Simone Aspis Increasingly, the government is enacting legislation and policies that have the potential to treat disabled people less favourably than their non-disabled peers. Whilst law and policy is meant in theory not to discriminate against disabled people, too often discrimination takes place in practice. By incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) […]
Work experience student Mollie writes on the campaign to have misogyny classified as a hate crime
Professor Geraldine van Bueren argues for a new approach
By Sam Alston In an unprecedented high court case in October 2018, the Dutch government was forced to abandon plans to weaken its carbon reduction targets. The case, first of its kind, depended heavily on human rights law, particularly the right to life (article 2) and the right to a family life (article 8). Since […]
Lauren Chaplin explores whether, six years on from Rana Plaza tragedy, anything has changed.
By Jane Kilpatrick Trafficking victim Peter came in contact with @ECPATUK after he ran away from his traffickers, in desperate need of support. In the #UK, the National Referral Mechanism is supposed to help victims, but cases are piling up & Peter is still waiting. #NRMhttps://t.co/1FkTArqIvB — ECPAT International (@ECPAT) January 30, 2019 In October […]
Sidney and Edith’s story Sidney and Edith have been married for 60 years. When Edith is allocated to a different care home to Sidney, she is distraught that she could be parted from him in their old age. But when Edith points out to Social Services that this would breach their human right to private […]
Will Bordell March was a month of modern slavery data-points – and they’re not as dull as they might sound. Across the board, statistic after statistic shows a steep increase: in referrals, in reporting, in victims, in prosecutions. This isn’t a sign that more modern slavery is happening, but that more is being spotted – […]
Josh Alston looks at the role that South African Jews played in the fight against apartheid, and remembers Ruth First’s struggle and sacrifice.
By Mia Hasenson-Gross, Executive Director of René Cassin When Minerva Bernardino from the Dominican Republic, Hansa Mehta from India and Shaista Ikramullah from Pakistan, joined Eleanor Roosevelt to ensure that the idea of women’s right to equality – “equal rights of men and women” – was rightfully incorporated into the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human […]
By Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission My father-in-law was 28 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted; living in New York City with his family, four thousand miles from home, survivors of the devastation of European Jewry. He still has an Austrian accent, still hasn’t been […]
Yoram Goodman reflects on his internship at René Cassin
74 years ago today, the Nazis killed 2,897 Roma men, women and children at Auschwitz
On World Day against Trafficking, Ben Lewis considers children “trapped in their exploitation”.
Stephen Shaw has published his long-awaited second review into UK immigration detention.
Michael Goldin calls for government reforms to an “appalling” system of immigration control.
Ben Cartwright discusses the importance of legal aid for victims of modern slavery.
Javid wants policy to be fair, respectful and decent. UK policy is none of these.
Aidan Shipman on the latest National Crime Agency figures
High Court upholds principles laid down 70 years ago in Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Government criticised over treatment of detainees
The Supreme Court has put down a very clear marker for victims’ rights
Lord McColl’s Bill will both help victims and ensure more offenders are prosecuted
28 day limit and community-based schemes offer more humane alternatives
Victims of modern slavery deserve a strategy that is more than just a slogan
Modern slaves – made to work exploitative hours, but totally dependent on employers
Domestic progress is being undermined by international failures
Debora Singer writes movingly about her own family history…
Lack of support puts slavery and trafficking survivors at risk
Lack of support puts slavery and trafficking survivors at risk
Lack of support puts slavery and trafficking survivors at risk
Lack of support puts slavery and trafficking survivors at risk
Have a read and find out what our brilliant work experience students Soroh, Jessica and Julia, have been doing with us this Summer…
It’s time to end ‘hierarchy of hate’ – by equalising sentences for all hate crimes
Ruby is generously raising money and awareness on the issue of modern day slavery
Minorities amongst Minorities: The LGBT experience in UK Detention Centres René Cassin Personal Project Emma Falley July 2017 René Cassin works towards a world where everyone can fully enjoy their human rights. The organisation draws on Jewish experiences and values to make a compelling case for human rights values and to campaign for change. René […]
Jewish experience tells us that unity must mean ensuring rights for the vulnerable
System puts survivors at risk and plays into the hands of abusers
Read our latest blog on modern day slavery
Jewish experience tells us that unity must mean ensuring rights for the vulnerable
Read the winning entries and what our judge, Joshua Rozenberg, says about them
‘I became enthralled by the topic, as slavery affects so many millions of people around the world, and I know that it is something I will continue to work on in the future.’ Hannah Richter writes about her three months interning with René Cassin. Find out what she got up to below. If you are […]
Why don’t anti-slavery laws prevent slavery?
There are community-based alternatives to the fatal inhumanity of immigration detention
How immigration detention affects women – and what Jewish teaching can tell us
This article is published as part of ‘Unlocking Detention’ – an annual ‘virtual’ tour of the UK’s detention estate, which aims to shine a spotlight on one of the gravest civil liberties issues in Britain today. Michael Goldin is an alumni of the René Cassin Fellowship Programme and previously worked for the JCWI. I first […]
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children are significantly overrepresented in the youth criminal justice system. However, the failure to record GRT children in ethnic monitoring processes means that there is no official data on this. Indeed, the lack of data means that this overrepresentation cannot be addressed. As put plainly by the Traveller Times, “if […]
Ruby is generously raising money and awareness on the issue of modern day slavery
“If we’re cut, we all bleed the same.” – James Masters writes about the 80th anniversary of Cable Street. For many the date of October 4 1936 is one that has slipped back into the annals of history. For others, it remains a day which will never be forgotten. Now, 80 years on since the […]
Kezia Niman writes about the indelible link between Jewish history and the refugee crisis
Alex Goldberg, René Cassin Trustee remembers a personal encounter with Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate, who died on 2 July
“In these turbulent and uncertain times, we need to hold firm to the values that bind us together as a society. Human rights laws developed in response to tyranny and genocide.Let’s not allow them to become the victims of political agendas” René Cassin Director, Mia Hasenson-Gross, responds to Brexit with a heartfelt personal plea
How many slaves are there in the UK? Is the UK better or worse than other countries at dealing with trafficking? What type of slavery is most prevalent in the UK? Recent statistics published by the Global Slavery Index paint an interesting picture. Read Zoe Paskett’s report for more detail. You can download Zoe’s thoughts here
On 4 May 2016, René Cassin Trustee Alexander Goldberg spoke at the memorial seminar in honour of Clemens Nathan. Clemens was a long time friend and colleague of Monsieur René Cassin. Alex said: “Borne out of the ashes of the Shoah, Clemens … believed that the Declaration was a global attempt to proclaim the imperative ‘never again’. Never again would there be such inhumanity. Never again would a sovereign state be able to claim that it could deprive a minority of life, liberty and fundamental freedoms on the basis of their religion, ethnicity and other characteristics or be able to claim it had done this under law of the land”
The lethal policy of immigration detention, defending the Human Rights Act … and much more – read the latest news from René Cassin – in our supporters’ newsletter, 24 February 2016
‘Every instance of an ethnic slur, or a stereotype or any other attempt to discriminate against us and push us ‘back to our caravans’ should be vigorously confronted.’ Rachel Bailey writes about the Six Nations Rugby incident between Joe Marler and Samson Lee, in which Marler called Lee a ‘Gypsy Boy’ and told him to […]
40 years ago this Saturday (20th February) the man our organisation is named after, Monsieur René Cassin passed away. Read Catherine O’Neill’s thoughts on his legacy and what her time as a René Cassin intern has taught her: You can download her thoughts here
On February 2, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees held a meeting to discuss the UK’s response to the refugee crisis. The meeting, titled “From Damascus to Dunkirk: Responding humanely to refugees at our border,” was packed with activists and community members, with not a single seat left unfilled. The panel consisted of five members: […]
‘For people who suffer from mental health issues, human rights legislation in the UK has proved a critical tool in securing justice and developing safeguards for their protection’ We looked at why the Human Rights Act has been good for those with mental health issues and what the ramifications of scrapping the Act would be […]
On this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Read our latest blog piece on why, 67 years on, it is as important as ever. Happy Human Rights Day!
We consider the ways in which human rights legislation affects Gypsy and Traveller Communities living in England and Wales. It is written in the context of government plans to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998. Human Rights legislation protects everyone but especially minorities within society. Any repeal or back-stepping on current protections will leave many groups […]
Read our latest update on policy and research developments regarding our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller campaign area Download the article here:Hope and Despair for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers
Today, 10th September 2015, Parliament sat down to debate detention for asylum seekers and refugees. Impassioned pleas were made by over 25 MPs, from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party. All MPs who spoke commended the report and called for radical change to the detention system. There was unanimous support for the […]
In Britain, asylum seekers can be held indefinitely in detention centres. This means that people, who have often escaped unthinkable situations to seek refuge in the UK, will not know when they will walk free once again. After being traumatised by war, imprisonment, religious persecution, torture, rape and sexual abuse, these people are trapped once […]
The Human Rights Act is often criticized for affording too many people the right to stay in the UK due to their right to a family life, even if they have committed crimes. Melissa Goldstein analyses recent cases surrounding Article 8 and finds that UK judges are currently interpreting Article 8 in far narrower terms. Download the […]
Leaders from René Cassin and Tzelem attended the London Church Refugee Network meeting to discuss interfaith campaigning on indefinite detention. Read more here.
From Magna Carta to Harmondsworth Article on the contradiction of celebrating the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta in an era where the UK is the only country in Europe not to have an upper time limit on detention.
Fear and prejudice here and abroad Gay, lesbian and bisexual asylum seekers face discrimination at every step of the process. The already harrowing experience of indefinite detention is worsened when you experience an extra layer of prejudice. The UK must do more to prevent harm coming to people seeking sanctuary on our shores.
Breaking the Chains On the 22nd of April, René Cassin was pleased to hear from renowned experts Parosha Chandran and Dr Aidan McQuade to discuss the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the future direction of anti-slavery advocacy. Chaired by Dr Rosa Freedman of Birmingham University and hosted by Berwin Leighton Paisner, the event was a great […]
There’s No Such Thing as Trivial Rights The Conservative Party’s proposal to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), argues that one of the HRAs shortcomings is its failure to distinguish between serious and trivial human rights. This article, by Talina Hurzeler, explores how this proposed distinction contradicts the contemporary international understanding of the human […]
The legislative framework for safeguarding human rights came about because of the need to protect people from the overweening power of the state – as witnessed by Nazi and Soviet atrocities in the 20th century. The UK was one of the first countries to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by enacting the […]
Hidden Detainees: the Secret Struggle There is a significant discord between the number of immigrants detained in the UK and that reflected by the official Home Office figure. This is because government statistics arbitrarily ignore an entire class of immigrant detainees: those held in Prison Service Establishments. This article, by Talina Hurzeler, explores the implications […]
