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'''UCSJ''', or the Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union, is a collection of Jewish human rights organisations working in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are based in ], but are linked to other organisations such as the ] and have offices in the countries in which they conduct their activities. '''Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union''' (abbreviated '''UCSJ''') is a collection of ] ] organizations working in ] and ]. They are based in ], but are linked to other organizations such as the ] and have offices in the countries in where they operate.


The UCSJ was formed in ] as a response to the situation at that time regarding Jews in the ] and ]. Today, most of its offices are based within the ] where it has 8 member councils, although there are seven offices in various locations in Eastern Europe and ], including ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] (although this was closed in 2005). The UCSJ was formed in ] as a response to the second class citizen status of Jews in the ] and ]. Today, most of its offices are based within the ] where it has 8 member councils, although there are seven offices in various locations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] (although this was closed in ]).


Their activities include reporting on the ] situations of countries in the FSU, as well as assisting communities in need, providing support with ] and ], exposing human rights violations and ]s, whether these are targeted against ]s, or other minorities in the region, such as the ], or ]. It has received funding from the ] of the ] as part of a three-year project designed to combat ], ] and ] within Eastern European countries, and the reports it produces on the situation in various countries are often presented to the ]. Their activities include reporting on the human rights situations of countries in the FSU, as well as assisting communities in need, providing support for ] and ], exposing ]s and ]s, whether these are targeted against ]s or other minorities in the region, such as ] or ]s. It receives funding from the ] of the ] as part of a three-year project designed to combat ], ] and ] in Eastern European countries and the reports it produces on the situation in various countries are often presented to the ].


=== Controversies === ==Controversies==
⚫ The UCSJ is one of the organizations included in the letter signed by members of the Russian ] which called for criminal investigations of Jewish organizations and Judaism itself. It was accused of fomenting racial hatred by Jews against other religions, a charge it denies.

⚫ The UCSJ was one of the organisations included in the letter signed by members of the Russian ], which called for criminal investigations of Jewish organisations and the Jewish religion itself. It was accused of fomenting racial hatred by Jews against other religions, a charge it denies.


A branch of the UCSJ was closed by the ] as part of what many observers saw as a wider crackdown on political ] in the region. (''main article - ]'') A branch of the UCSJ was closed by the ] as part of what many observers saw as a wider crackdown on political ] in the region. (''main article - ]'')


==External link==
== Official site ==
⚫ *

⚫

Revision as of 19:51, 22 January 2006

Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union (abbreviated UCSJ) is a collection of Jewish human rights organizations working in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are based in Washington DC, but are linked to other organizations such as the Moscow Helsinki Group and have offices in the countries in where they operate.

The UCSJ was formed in 1970 as a response to the second class citizen status of Jews in the USSR and Eastern Europe. Today, most of its offices are based within the United States where it has 8 member councils, although there are seven offices in various locations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including Moscow, Almaty, Bishkek, Lviv, Riga, Tbilisi and Minsk (although this was closed in 2005).

Their activities include reporting on the human rights situations of countries in the FSU, as well as assisting communities in need, providing support for asylum seekers and migrants, exposing human rights violations and hate crimes, whether these are targeted against Jews or other minorities in the region, such as Roma or Muslims. It receives funding from the European Commission of the European Union as part of a three-year project designed to combat racism, anti-semitism and islamophobia in Eastern European countries and the reports it produces on the situation in various countries are often presented to the US State Department.

Controversies

The UCSJ is one of the organizations included in the letter signed by members of the Russian Duma which called for criminal investigations of Jewish organizations and Judaism itself. It was accused of fomenting racial hatred by Jews against other religions, a charge it denies.

A branch of the UCSJ was closed by the government of Belarus as part of what many observers saw as a wider crackdown on political dissent in the region. (main article - Human rights in Belarus)

External link