The importance of the Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations ten years ago was stressed here today at a ceremony during which a joint publication on human rights issued by 32 national organizations representing 37, 000, 000 Americans was presented to Ambassador R. Gunewardene of Ceylon, newly-” elected chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
The presentation was made by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt. The Jewish groups among the 32 organizations include the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress and others. In accepting the publication, entitled “In Your Hands, ” Ambassador Gunewardene said that the Declaration of Human Rights “stands out as perhaps the greatest achievement of the United Nations to date” in promoting and encouraging fundamental freedoms.
Stressing that the “destiny of human rights is in the hands of all citizens, ” Mrs. Roosevelt said: “It is our hope that “In Your Hands” may inspire them to strengthen their relations with one another; to acquaint themselves with the Universal Declaration of Human rights to discuss it with their neighbors; to examine their own practices in the light of the standard it has raised, and to improve these practices wherever it is needed.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
