UCSJ is a Washington D.C.-based NGO that works on human rights and the rule of law in the Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

History

From 1970-1991 UCSJ led the grassroots movement to allow Soviet Jews to emigrate, spoke out against anti-Semitism and abuse of human rights, acting as the spokeman for the Refusenik movement and worked for the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.  We had individual councils in most major cities in the U.S., and send individuals into the Soviet Union to provide aid and support for the Refusenik community. It was the major leader of the “March on Washington” in support of Soviet Jewry in 1987, which drew 250,000 demonstrators.  In 1989 we helped found the American Association for Jews from the Former Soviet Union.

After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, UCSJ created human rights organizations in the various new countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU).  Many of these organizations have since become independent NGOs dedicated to fighting against anti-Semitism, xenophobia, religious discrimination, and abuse of human rights. They advocate for democracy and the rule of law.  UCSJ maintains a collegial relationship with these NGOs and has worked with other similar NGOs in the FSU as their unofficial representative in the United States. UCSJ maintains official representatives in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus to advocate for these organizations in the U.S. and regularly sends representatives to the FSU to meet with these NGOs and to discuss issues of common interest.

What we do

Through its offices and relationships in the FSU, UCSJ is able to give first-hand reports of acts of abuse of human rights and religious discrimination and report these events on its blog “Coalition Against Hate” where 55+ NGOs can report and discuss incidents in Russian and English.  The main purpose of the “Coalition Against Hate” is to unite the NGOs in their struggle against xenophobia, neo-Nazism, chauvinism, and extremistm in the FSU.  Out direct fact finding is used by the State Department and other organization in their work.

UCSJ has joined with other U.S. organizations concerned with international religious freedom to form an informal mutual alliance.  This alliance lobbies the U.S. Congress, State Department, and the President for help in fighting religious discrimination all around the world.  The alliance alo jointly petitions offending countries to cease their wrongful activities.

Our supporters

Include individuals around the U.S. who are concerned about the fate of the 1.3 million Jews who still reside in the FSU.  Many of those concerned about anti-Semitism are also aware that neo-Nazi activity and xenophobia are all part of a host of human rights problems what must work for an eventual democratic society and the rule of law in these countries.  Today our supporters include non jews and organizations that believe the NGOs that makeup the Coalition Against Hate are the long-term answer for a peaceful transition to democratic societies in that long troubled part of the world.