This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.
Baldwin, Advisor on International Affairs of the ACLU and Chairman of the International League for the Rights of Man, answers questions from the foreign press about the ACLU and segregation.
Human rights, as defined by the United Nations: right of all people to be free of foreign domination; freedom of press, speech and liberty; not to be discriminated against for race, sex, religion and nationality. Civil rights are human rights. Paradox of a government fighting to preserve some rights abroad that are denied at home.
Human Rights Commission has been blocked by trying to draft covenants on economic and political rights; you can't have 80 people trying to draft a document if you want to get anywhere.
When your rights are violated, you should be able to put your case before the United Nations. Now there is no way for a minority or individuals to get a hearing by any international authority; they'll only listen to governments. Unless you can get a government to go up for you, you'll be out of luck. Europeans have created a court for western Europeans.
Trying to convince the UN that discussing a country's practices does not qualify as intervening. Role of Non Government Organizations at the UN.
Treatment of people from communist countries. Issuance of passports.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 72261
Municipal archives id: LT7667