UN International Human Rights Day

December 4, 2023

Every year on December 10, the world marks International Human Rights Day. On this date 75 years ago, in 1948 and in the shadow of the Holocaust, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that recognizes the shared humanity and aspirations of all people.

This year, International Human Rights Day falls in the shadow of the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust. More broadly, the October 7 massacre – which included rape, torture, dismembering and burning of corpses, and kidnapping – was the worst single-day atrocity since 9/11.

Unfortunately, the international human rights community has quickly forgotten about the Israeli, Jewish, and other victims of October 7. As opposed to their responses to other massive atrocities, human rights NGOs and UN agencies have barely condemned the massacre (some even celebrated it) and have not lobbied intensively on behalf of victims – especially the hostages.

Where are the campaigns about skyrocketing antisemitism and physical violence against Jews? The rampant incitement on university campuses, in public spaces, and online? The dehumanization of Jews and atrocity denial, both manifest in tearing down posters of hostages.

On their social media accounts, the NGOs’ and UN’s disproportionate focus has been on Gaza – often to the exclusion of the Jewish experience.

In the wake of October 7, the international human rights community has to do serious soul searching and reevaluating its priorities and relationship to Jewish people and communities. They must start taking antisemitism seriously, just like any other form of hateful discrimination or racism, and devote meaningful attention to combating it. For some NGOs and UN agencies, this also means confronting their owns role in creating a hostile environment for Jews.

On International Human Rights Day, we say: #JewsHaveHumanRightsToo,
#JewsAreHumanToo #StandUp4HumanRights