U.N. Human Rights Commission Condemns Anti-semitism; Urges Action

The Human Rights Commission of the United Nations adopted unanimously today the first resolution condemning anti-Semitism ever approved by a major agency of the United Nations. The resolution condemned such prejudice as a violation of the charter of the UN.

Approval came after members of the commission completed discussion of various phases of the problem of preventing discrimination in religious rights and practices and on establishment of measures to eradicate racial prejudice as manifested in the January worldwide outbreak of anti-Semitic smearings. A number of amendments to the text of the resolution were incorporated in the revised text approved today. The approved statement read:

“The Commission on Human Rights, noting with deep concern the manifestations of anti-Semitism and other forms of racial prejudice and religious intolerance of a similar nature which recently occurred in various countries and which might be once again a forerunner of other heinous acts endangering the future; and expressing gratification that governments, peoples and private organizations spontaneously reacted in opposition to these manifestations; and taking into account recommendations on the subject by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities.

“Firstly, condemns these manifestations as a violation of the principles incorporated in the charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in particular, as a violation of the rights of groups against which they are directed and as a blow to the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all peoples.”

The resolution urged “member states of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to take all appropriate action to prevent effectively such acts and punish them wherever they are committed. It called on “public authorities and private organizations to make sustained efforts to educate public opinion with a view to the eradication of racial prejudices and racial intolerance reflected in such manifestations and for the elimination of all undesirable influences promoting such prejudices.”

HAMMARSKJOLD ASKED TO SEEK INFORMATION ON ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS

The resolution urged such authorities and organizations to “take appropriate measures so that education may be directed with due regard to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to the principles of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child adopted in a resolution of the General Assembly.”

Another clause in the resolution asked Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold to consult with Governments of UN member states and with specialized UN agencies in all territories where the manifestations occurred, including UNESCO and non-Governmental organizations with consultative status, for the purpose of obtaining information and suggestions relevant to the anti-Semitic incidents, the public reaction to the incidents and measures taken to combat them and their causes.

The Secretary General also was asked to transmit all such information and suggestions, as they were received, to members of the Subcommission. The Subcommission was asked at its next session to evaluate this information and to draft such conclusions “as seem to be justified, recommend such action as seems desirable, and to report further to the Commission on Human Rights.”