Appeals to the United Nations Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, now in session here, to include reunification of families in its report on the rights of individuals to emigrate from the country of their residence were voiced here yesterday by representatives of the World Jewish Congress and the Agudath Israel World Organizations. The appeals were aimed at securing the right of Jews to leave the Soviet Union and join their families abroad.
Appearing before the Subcommittee on behalf of the World Jewish Congress, Ralph Zacklin referred to two situations arising from the denial of this right, with a special humanitarian significance; These situations, he said, were: 1. The question of divided families; 2. The question of expatriation of a group to a country for which they felt some binding tie for national, religious or sentimental reasons; He expressed hope that these humanitarian problems will be taken into account by the Subcommission in its survey
Dr. Isaac Lewin, speaking at the Subcommission on behalf of the World Agudah, also emphasized the need for specific mention of the right of persons to emigrate for purpose of family reunification; Denial of such a right, declared Dr. Lewin, was “perhaps the most serious form of discrimination; ” When that right is denied, he said, “national or territorial boundaries are converted into veritable, if sometimes invisible, prison walls.”
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