Celebrating Human Rights Declaration Anniversary
Sixty years after the creation of the UN's Human Rights Declaration, Hillel Neuer, of the Geneva based UN Watch, told nearly 300 people, who braved the sleet and snow on Wednesday night, that the current Human Rights Council needs major changes to be effective. It is not today, he said, what Eleanor Roosevelt had in mind.
Neuer began the Chapter's Crucial Issues Series that is being presented with the World Affairs Council Houston. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN sixty years ago on Wednesday, "ushered in a new era of hope," says David Harris, in his national radio commentary. "AJC was proud to be among those urging the UN to adopt it."
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The Chapter's President's Council also had a breakfast discussion with Neuer to discuss UN Watch's behind the scenes activities and insights into the Council's behavior and initiatives. Max Blankfeld, Reva and Bruce Edison, Ann Kasman, Eve and Bobby Lapin, Amb. Arthur Schechter, and Helene and Dror Zadok participated in the discussion.
European diplomats assess Iran, Middle East, Obama
Three European Consuls General discussed issue priorities with the Chapter's International Affairs Commission on Monday. British Consul General Paul Lynch, French Consul General Pierre Grandjouan, and German Consul General Rainer Muenzel all agreed that containing Iran was the number one international issue facing the Obama Administration. They said the US must find a way to bring Russia into the discussion to resolve Iran's nuclear drive. Chapter participants included: Reva Edison, Noel Graubart, Ann Kasman, Jack Lascar, Victoria Lazar, Dena Palermo, Muriel Phillips, Tricia Rauch, and Tracy Stein.
AJC Africa Institute, Senegal President Discuss Interfaith Conference
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who is president of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has invited AJC's Africa Institute to assist in organizing a major international interfaith conference in the West African state. He plans to host a conference for Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders, similar to the gathering convened earlier this year by Saudi King Abdullah in Madrid. "President Wade's vision offers a
welcome and needed opportunity to convene Jewish, Muslim, and Christian leaders in an African setting to advance the ties of dialogue and mutual understanding," said Stanley Bergman, chair of AJC's Africa Institute. "We are delighted to be part of the planning process." AJC met with President Wade in September in New York.
AJC Supports Israeli Relief Effort in Mumbai
Thanks to a partnership of AJC, the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto, and the Israeli relief organization IsraAID, a team of Israeli post-trauma experts are in Mumbai to train local counselors to support victims of the terror massacre. Priya Tandon, AJC's representative in India, is assisting with the team's logistics. The Israeli medical team is working with the Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre's Trauma Counseling Unit in Mumbai, and with teachers at local schools. This is the latest example of AJC partnering with IsraAID to provide humanitarian relief around the world.
December 12, 2008
Tues., Feb. 3 
