Inspiring Human Rights

(PHOTO: CLAUDIO CALLIGARIS)

In 1946, when Gordon Echenberg, BA’61, BCL’64, was six years old, another boy called him a “dirty Jew.” A fight ensued. “As my mother always told the story, the principal asked me what caused the fight, and I replied: ‘You tell me what caused Hitler, and I’ll tell you what caused the fight.’”

Over 50 years later, he has lost none of his “intolerance for intolerance.” He and his wife, Penny Echenberg, have made a $1-million gift to create the Echenberg Family Conferences on Human Rights at the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism in McGill’s Faculty of Law.

The first in the series was the Global Conference on the Prevention of Genocide, launched in October 2007. The participation of genocide survivors, the international array of high-profile panelists, the extensive use of the Internet including postings of the proceedings, the worldwide press and media coverage, together with publication of academic papers – all were components of this major McGill success.

An integral part of the conference was the Young Leaders Forum, which brought together 35 young people actively committed to human rights from 26 countries. Their participation reinforced the conviction that these conferences could produce practical results. “The point was not simply to bring together known human rights proponents,” says Mrs. Echenberg, “but also to allow them to inspire and be inspired by this dynamic group of young people.” Her husband adds: “The intelligence and commitment of the Young Leaders injected the conference with youthful enthusiasm and a sense of hope.”

Currently, three more Echenberg Family Conferences are in the works, each with its own Young Leaders Forum. Another part of the Echenbergs’ commitment is to provide funding for a Secretariat based at the Centre, which will enable the Young Leaders to keep in touch and, even more importantly, initiate their own human rights projects.

The Echenbergs view the Young Leaders as a small army of committed activists who, through their global collaboration, will promote human rights in their home countries and serve as resources for each other. “For us, this is not a donation,” says Echenberg. “It is an investment in an innovative McGill outreach program that will have practical and positive results. If just one of these Young Leaders makes a difference in the world, then both we and McGill will have succeeded.”

Laurel Baker