Human Rights—Where Do We Stand? By DR. NAHUM GOLDMANN President, World Jewish Congress DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-69 Friday, September 16, 1955 sign to the urges, the demands, EDITOR'S NOTE: During 5715, 94 in- dress to the conference. Portions of the complaints, of discriminated ternational agencies, representing tens his address are reprinted not only be- groups, and to convince them that of millions of people throughout the cause they are of special interest to earth, met at Geneva under the aus- world Jewry, but also because they a serious effort would be made by pices of the United Nations Conference contain specific proposals in the fight the United Nations to improve of Non-Governmental Organizations to against bigotry. their situation, to hear their com- consider ways of eliminating prejudice and discrimination. This unusual meet- One of the main aims and val- plaints, and to satisfy their just ing had a deep significance for the demands, in an orderly construc- Jewish people, a fact noted by Dr. ues of the United Nations when it Nahum Goldmann, president of the was established, was to serve as a tive process. World Jewish Congress who headed a This solemn obligation has large WJC delegation, in a major ad- great instrument to give expres- not been fulfilled. After a decade of consistent and unremitting effort, of great hopes, but of bitter disappoint- ments, no Internatioal Bill of Human Rights has come into ex- istence. None of the Great Powers shows any inclination, willingness 1300 Broadway, Corner Gratiot or readiness to fulfil their pledged obligations "to take joint WOodward 1-9459 and separate actions to promote Visit Our Northland Center Building "B Parking Lot" universal respect and observance of human rights and freedoms." The situation is worse today, in many respects, than it was in the days of the League of Nations which did establish the right of petition. At the League of Na- tions there were notable cases in which the World Jewish Con- gress was concerned, where such petitions brought about impor- tant and positive results. Today, 7-116 General Motors Bldg. this is impossible. Where do we now stand? What TR. 5-3773 does the situation demand? The experience of the Jewish people, perhaps the most griev- ously afflicted victim of racial and religious prejudice, leads us to the conviction that the battle against discrimination and prejudice cannot be won in the field of generalized propa- ganda alone or in an appeal only to good sense and good will. We believe that action to eradi- cate discrimination can be effect- 1H 3 MAJESTIC BLDG. ive only in the field of the law, by legislative measures on the 'in- ternational and national planes. Accordingly, we propose: Holiday Best Wishes (1) That we address a solemn and earnest appeal to the Powers MODERNIZE WITH A RELIABLE CONCERN to revise their policy on human rights, within the United Nations. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling, wall and floor tile, all types of The time has come for a new ap- carpenter work, roofing, siding, eavestroughs, plastering, piers, com- proach designed to create legally bination windows and doors- and all other types of alterations. binding instruments, to promote respect for human rights and to HOME IMPROVEMENT CO. secure their observance; 11550 - 12th Street TO. 9-4700 (2) That it is indispensable that the right of recognized non-gov- Sundays and Evenings UN. 3-7145 ernmental bodies to make repre- sentations to the UN on policies and acts of discrimination and to secure public examination of Our Most Cordial Greetings to such grievances, should be- estab- All Our Friends and Patrons lished and accepted by the State Members of the UN; and For Fast, Accurate and Complete Information, Call (3) That we urge Governments to adopt legislation prohibiting and penalizing discrimination in their countries. Such legislation REALTOR UN 4-4600 would not only, protect victims of 10607 W. 7 MILE ROAD discrimination and prejudice, but would create new standards of 26 Years of Experience in Northwest Detroit behavior and exercise a power- ful educational influence in their elimination. 'tire should not rely exclu- sively or primarily on an ap- peal to governments. We should not underestimate our own strength. We sit here represent- ing many millions of people. SASH DOORS AND MILL WORK Never in history was public Opinion, if properly guided and JO 4-6593 216 E. HARRISON ROYAL OAK directed, as powerful as it is today. In Saginaw, Michigan, at Governments will be the last 2121 S. MICHIGAN PHONE 5-4481 to follow. Politicians rarely cre- ate new orders. What they do is to crystallize, organize and legal- ■ ■ ■••■1■ ■ ■0■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ize them. I speak here as a Jew repre- senting a people whose history is perhaps the most dramatic and tragic expression • of racial and religious discrimination and per- secution, especially during the Nazi period. We have lived for WHOLESALE BEEF CO. centuries, discriminated against and persecuted all over the world, as small minorities. We I 3017 Russell TE. 2-4315 have survived because we never gave up hope and refused to yield ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ to brute strength and govern- ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■0■ mental power. We continued to protest and to proclaim our rights Our Sincerest Wishes for the New Year to equality and freedom. 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