Born in
Bayonne, France, to a distinguished Jewish family, he studied
literature and law in Aix-le-Provence, France, and Paris and was
called to the bar in 1909, receiving his doctorate in law in
1914. In World War I he served in the infantry, was severely wounded
and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. He began his academic
career at the University of Lille (1920), France, and was professor
of law at the University of Paris from 1929. From 1924 Cassin was a
member of the French delegation at the League of Nations and after
World War II he represented France at the United Nations and at
Unesco of which he was a founder. During the war he was national
commissioner for justice and education in the French
government-in-exile. After the WW II he was president of the UN
Commission on Human Rights and, together with Eleanor Roosevelt,
initiated the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948). He held
many government and international positions including president of
the European Court of Human Rights. In 1968 Cassin was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize. He was president of the Alliance Israelite
Universelle. In 1987 his remains were transferred to the Pantheon in
Paris
Bibliography:
CASSIN, Rene. La pensee et
l'action. Pp. 326 , [32] of plates: ill. [Paris]: F. Lalou,
c1972
AGI, Marc. Rene Cassin:
fantassin des droits de l'homme. Pp. 351, [16] p. of plates.
Paris: Plon, c1979
Links:
The Nobel Prize Internet Archive
Institut
International des Droits de l'Homme (established by Rene Cassin)
