René Cassin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
René Cassin
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René Cassin portrait from his Nobel Prize
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| Born |
René Samuel Cassin
5 October 1887 |
| Died | 20 February 1976 (aged 88) Paris, France
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| Occupation | French jurist, law professor and judge |
| Known for | Advocacy for Human Rights |
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Notable work
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
| Awards | Nobel Peace Prize (1968) |
René Samuel Cassin (born October 5, 1887 – died February 20, 1976) was a French lawyer and judge. He is famous for helping to write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This important document lists the basic rights that all people should have. For his work, René Cassin received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968.
Cassin was born in Bayonne, France. He was a soldier in World War I. Later, he played a big part in creating international laws that protect human rights.
Contents
Who Was René Cassin?
René Cassin was born into a Jewish family in Bayonne, France. He grew up in Nice and was a very smart student. By age 17, he had earned his first degree. He studied law and economics at the University of Aix. In 1914, he earned his doctorate degree in Paris.
Cassin passed away in Paris in 1976. His remains were later moved to the Pantheon in Paris. This is a special building where many important French people are honored.
René Cassin's Early Life and Career
How Did World War I Change Cassin's Life?
René Cassin fought in World War I in 1916. He was badly hurt during a battle. A medic saved his life, but he needed a lot of time to recover. He received a medal called the Croix de Guerre for his bravery. Because of his injuries, he could not return to active duty.
After the war, Cassin helped other veterans. He started a group called the French Federation of Disabled War Veterans in 1918. He was its president for many years. This shows he cared deeply about people who had suffered.
Working for Peace at the League of Nations
From 1924 to 1938, Cassin represented France at the League of Nations. This was an organization that tried to prevent future wars. Cassin worked hard to encourage countries to reduce their weapons. He also helped create ways to solve international problems peacefully.
René Cassin During World War II
Joining General de Gaulle in London
When World War II started, France was taken over by Germany. René Cassin refused to give up. On June 24, 1940, he traveled to London to join General Charles de Gaulle. De Gaulle was leading the Free French forces from outside France. Cassin was one of the first to join him.
De Gaulle needed legal experts to help organize the Free French government. Cassin's legal skills were very helpful. Even though he didn't speak English, he knew important people in London.
Standing Up Against Injustice
During the war, the French government that worked with Germany took away Cassin's French citizenship. In 1942, they even sentenced him to death while he was away. But Cassin continued to fight for France and for human rights. He spoke on the radio from London, reminding French people, especially Jewish people, that France had always protected their rights. He encouraged them to join the fight for freedom.
After the War: A Champion of Human Rights
Helping to Write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
After World War II, René Cassin joined the United Nations. He played a key role in writing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document was adopted in 1948. It lists 30 basic rights that everyone in the world should have. These rights include freedom, equality, and justice. Cassin's hard work on this declaration earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968.
Serving on International Courts
Cassin also worked on important international legal bodies. He was a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. He also served on the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
From 1959 to 1968, he was a judge and then president of the European Court of Human Rights. This court helps protect human rights in Europe. Today, the court building in Strasbourg is on a street named after him.
Supporting Jewish Communities
In 1945, Charles de Gaulle asked Cassin to help the Jewish people. Cassin became the president of the French-Jewish Alliance Israélite Universelle (AIU). This group worked to educate Jewish people and promote their civil rights. Cassin also helped create the Consultative Council of Jewish Organisations. This group supported human rights from a Jewish point of view.
René Cassin's Lasting Impact
René Cassin's work continues to inspire people today.
- In 2001, a human rights group called CCJO René Cassin was founded. It promotes human rights from a Jewish perspective. They also give out the René Cassin medal to people who have made a big difference in human rights around the world.
- A high school in Jerusalem is named after him.
- In 2003, the Basque Government created the René Cassin Award. This award honors people or groups who have shown a strong dedication to promoting and defending Human Rights. The award is given out every year on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.
Images for kids
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Memorial to Cassin in Forbach, France
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René Cassin within the French National Committee in London
See also
In Spanish: René Cassin para niños
