rené cassin VoiLo•fof ANNUAL REPORT 2020 **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## WELCOME FROM OUR CHAIR ## _Dear Reader_ It has been a year that nobody who lived through it will ever forget, no matter how much they might want to. At the beginning of March, we marked International Women’s Day with a packed and joyous Women’s Seder – less than two weeks later we were in lockdown, as Covid began its insidious advance. On a purely practical level, lockdown presented a whole raft of logistical difficulties for a small charity like ours. But I’m proud and very pleased to say that this is not the story of our year. With skill, foresight, and dogged determination, Mia and the team became a ‘virtual’ organisation almost overnight. The office was abandoned, we all became dab hands at Zoom and Teams, and we got on with our work. Actually, that description understates our achievements. Within weeks we had launched, from scratch, a programme of online events across a range of important and topical human rights issues. And a feature of the pandemic that soon emerged – that, contrary to the mantra that “we’re all in the same boat”, some disadvantaged groups were disproportionately suffering its effects – highlighted the prescience of our preCovid decision to expand our work to include socio-economic justice, and the rights of women and disabled people. That decision had come from our analysis that we needed to remake the case for human rights through emphasising their relevance in, as Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “small places, close to home”. Roosevelt was speaking on the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the global community’s response to the horrors of the Second World War. René Cassin takes its name from the French-Jewish co-author of the Declaration and, as so often, we found inspiration in his work’s Article 25 which begins “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for … health and well-being … including food, clothing, housing, and medical care …”. But we have also been setting our sights on one large place, a long way from home: China. The Universal Declaration was in essence a response to the attempted genocide of Europe’s Jews by the Nazis. The Chinese government’s brutal repression of its Uyghur Muslims – through mass detention, forced labour and sterilisation, and outlawing expressions of cultural and religious identity – has chilling echoes of our own experience. René Cassin has worked tirelessly through the year to mobilise the Jewish community to speak out, as a catalyst to a more wide-ranging UK response. As the year drew to an end, an intervention from the Chief Rabbi showed the efficacy of such an approach. _Danny Silverstone_ Chair of Trustee Board **1** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## THIS YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS In 2020 René Cassin: - Mobilised the UK’s Jewish community to speak out against the Chinese government’s repression of Muslims Uyghurs and other ethnic groups - Adapted quickly to the Covid-19 restrictions, launching an extensive programme of online events - Set up a new ‘Ambassador Programme’ to empower young Jewish human rights activists - Held a sold-out ‘Women’s Seder’ to mark International Women’s Day - Marked Hate Crime Awareness Week via our #CutItOut campaign to highlight discrimination suffered by our Gypsy, Traveller and Roma neighbours - Launched new workstreams on women’s rights and socioeconomic justice to address long-standing inequalities laid bare by the pandemic - Held an essay competition on the roots of genocide – our judge Lord Finkelstein found the winning entry “intellectually thrilling” - Had our film ‘Sunrise, not Sunset’ on the benefits of the Human Rights Act to ordinary people featured in this year’s Jewish Film Festival **2** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## **Why ‘René Cassin’?** We are proud to take our name from Nobel Laureate and French Jurist Monsieur René Cassin, who was one of the principal drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and served as President of the European Court of Human Rights. He was a lifelong advocate of international human rights protection and understood that, because of the Holocaust, it was vital that there was a strong and clear Jewish voice for human rights. _“…there is no task of safeguarding human rights more urgent than that of foreseeing such outrages and preventing them.”_ Monsieur René Cassin, Nobel Lecture, 11 December 1968 ## **Our Vision** , **Mission** and **Values** Our **vision** is of a world where: - **everyone fully enjoys all their human rights** as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - **members of the Jewish community are actively engaged** in promoting and protecting these rights, both within the community and in concert with stakeholders outside of the community Our **mission** is to promote and protect the universal rights of all people, drawing on Jewish experiences and values. We will: - **remake a compelling case** for human rights values - **campaign for change** in defined human rights areas through a combination of advocacy, policy analysis, public campaigning, and education - **lead and grow** a group of committed Jewish human rights advocates - **maximise our capacity** to work effectively Our **values** – underpinning all the work we do: - **Solidarity** – human rights belong to us all, so we stand for the rights of everyone, everywhere - **Judaism** – we are inspired by Jewish values and experience - **Collaboration** – our work is not isolated, but intertwined with the efforts of others, so we nurture and mobilise relationships - **Empowerment** – we turn today’s Jewish activists into tomorrow’s leaders - **Monsieur René Cassin** – we are determined to create a legacy worthy of our namesake **3** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## OUR WORK **As ‘the Jewish voice for human rights’ René Cassin works:** - **within the Jewish community – building support for human rights values amongst British Jews** - **in the wider community – bringing a Jewish perspective to human rights debates, especially on issues affecting vulnerable minorities** **We work via advocacy, policy analysis, public campaigning, and education, focusing on key issues that strongly resonate with Jewish experience.** ## **Summary** On 31 December 2019 the website of the US Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy posted a small report announcing _“Chinese officials probe unidentified ” pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan_ . With that seemingly insignificant news from an obscure website, everything changed. René Cassin has not only survived a tumultuous year but will begin 2021 as a growing organisation with an expanded remit and an even greater sense of purpose. In 2020 – the year of Covid-19 – we have maintained all our core work: **4** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 - Highlighting the importance of the human rights framework that is a legacy of the Holocaust - Bringing Jewish values and experience to issues facing some of the UK’s most marginalised minorities: - victims of modern slavery and human trafficking - Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities suffering particular discrimination and disadvantage - asylum-seekers held in indefinite immigration detention - Building support for human rights values amongst British Jewry via our educational programmes In addition, as presaged last year, we have started to develop significant new strands: - We have built on the partnership we formed last year with UK and International based Uyghur Muslims, mobilising the Jewish community to spearhead the call for action to address the Chinese government’s systematic persecution of their co-religionists in Xinjiang Province - Our work on discrimination against Gypsies, Roma and Travellers has spawned a wider #CutItOut campaign, aimed at countering hateful stereotyping - New campaigns on women’s rights, and economic and social justice, for which we have secured new two-year funding from the Judith Trust and have recruited a new staff member. These issues have become even more pressing, in the light of underlying and persistent inequalities exposed by the health emergency, and widespread calls to seize the opportunity to ‘build back better’. **5** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## RESPONDING TO THE COVID LOCKDOWN René Cassin responded swiftly and decisively to the health emergency – in the short term, to secure the immediate well-being of the organisation and, in the longer term, to capitalise on the opportunity for forging a future more aligned with the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As soon as the lockdown was confirmed, both trustees and the executive team worked to ensure that René Cassin should remain ‘open’ and outward facing, adapting our work practices and activities to the radically changed environment. Very quickly a ‘virtual office’ was established, carrying all operations and communication online. This stable basis enabled us very quickly to devise, set up, promote and begin to deliver an ambitious programme of online interactive public events – under the banner ‘stay Hopeful, stay Helpful, stay Human’ – including: - Four specialist workshops on the practical use of the Human Rights Act for ameliorating the lives of people suffering particular disadvantages - A panel discussion on how best to campaign against hate crime - A veteran of the Kindertransport discussing her lifelong campaigning for migrant rights as part of our Refugee Week 2020 activity - A solidarity Iftar during Ramadan, and an educational webinar, to show solidarity with Muslim Uyghurs persecuted in China - A series looking at the impact of Covid-19 on human rights, and opportunities for ‘building back better’ in the post-virus world This 20-event programme attracted over 1000 bookings, a success we built on through our autumn events, which will be covered in the thematic section below. _**“I have found the events very very interesting, so thanks for running them. I have found them fascinating and inspirational” –**_ **Josh** **6** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## IMPACT OF OUR CAMPAIGNS ## **Remaking the case for human rights** We have focused on building public support for the Human Rights Act, the ‘grandchild’, via the European Convention on Human Rights, of Monsieur René Cassin’s Universal Declaration. We have stressed the wide-ranging application of the Act in helping ‘ordinary people in everyday situations’, produced a series of short films and marked October’s 20[th] anniversary of the Act coming into force. Our film _Sunrise, not Sunset_ , telling how the Act was used to re-unite an elderly couple whose local authority had placed in separate care homes, was a featured short in November’s Jewish Film Festival. We marked Human Rights Day on 10 December, the anniversary of the UN’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by stressing the renewed significance of the social justice elements of the Declaration – _Food, clothing and a home are human rights too_ . ## **Uyghur Muslims in China** The year has seen ever-growing evidence of the widescale systematic persecution of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese state. Having brought the issue to the Jewish community’s attention last year, the considerable time and resources we have dedicated to this issue this year is bearing fruit. René Cassin has successfully mobilised a cross-communal Jewish response to the crisis – a response that has value, through the solidarity and moral authority born of Jewish experience. In January, we produced a briefing paper on the Uyghur issue, published an article in _Jewish Renaissance_ on how the internment camps are ‘eerily familiar’, and linked our Holocaust Memorial Day statement to the current crisis. Similarly, in July we marked the anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. Later that month, we partnered with _Jewish News_ to produce _Chilling Echoes_ , a livestream discussion featuring Rahima Mahmut of the World Uyghur Congress and broadcaster/campaigner Maajid Nawaz; and joined a 200-organisation coalition calling for an end to forced Uyghur labour; and produced a detailed list of actions to engage the community. We built on this through an online session – _What is happening to the Uyghurs in China and what can you do about it?_ – later published on YouTube. As the year grew to close, we linked our statement on 9 December’s anniversary of the Genocide Convention to the **7** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 issue; our unique resource pack for Human Rights Shabbat asking ‘How can the Jewish experience and principles inform the prevention of genocide today?’ was used by more than fifty communities; and we led _Celebrating the Light_ , a Jewish/Uyghur solidarity Hanukkah candle lighting. The year ended with a significant intervention by the Chief Rabbi, with whom we had discussed the issue during the year, in an opinion piece in the _Guardian_ . _**“Thanks for sending the information for Human Rights Shabbat. At our Zoom service yesterday – at which there were members of the Leicester and Manchester Liberal communities as well as ourselves – our Rabbi used the info pack. We had people doing various readings from it, and we agreed that we would send it out to all members of our community”**_ **– Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community** ## **Gypsy, Roma and Traveller rights** We began the year by co-hosting, with Muswell Hill Synagogue, a photographic exhibition highlighting the parallels of Jewish and Roma/Gypsy history and experience. _Don’t Forget the Photos_ documented the experiences of German Sinti and Roma during the Nazi regime through the lives of nine families. In March, we turned our attention to the plight of these families’ modern-day counterparts in the UK when we responded to a Home Office consultation on tightening restrictions on the encampments of travelling communities, arguing _“Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and_ _nomadic ways of life, have long been a part of the country we call home, they belong”_ . Because of Covid restrictions, our traditional participation in 2 August events to mark the Roma Holocaust took place online and we released a statement which concluded: _“Our shared experience has taught us the need to stand together in solidarity. We will not forget. And we must continue to look – because what we see today, with the persecution of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese government, looks a lot like a new genocide”._ _**“I have just read René Cassin's thoughtful submission about Traveller encampments. I then found myself hooked by the rest of the website” – Debora**_ **Hate speech** **8** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 Our work on hate speech has grown out of that on the discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities outlined above. With the rapid growth in hate crime following the EU referendum and the more recent spate of anti-Semitism, this is becoming a strand of work in its own right. We marked October’s Hate Crime Awareness Week by relaunching our #CutItOut campaign, providing campaign materials on individuals and encouraging them to ‘ ’ stand together against the pandemic of hate . ## **Immigration detention** We marked June’s Refugee Week with Ruth Barnett, a veteran of the Kindertransport, reflecting on the question: _“Refugees and the Holocaust: Have we learnt our lessons?”_ at an online event, and published Debora Singer’s poem _The Kindness of Strangers_ . We also highlighted the way the Covid crisis had made immigration removal centers even more inhumane, pressing our long-standing case for a 28-day limit to immigration detention, a case backed up by a further opinion piece. ## **Modern day slavery and human trafficking** We have highlighted the parallels of Jewish and Uyghur experience in the brutal use of forced labour and sterilisation by the Chinese government, something which is disproportionately suffered by Uyghur women as our briefing outlines. And, in _Chained Women_ , a piece that also dovetails with our nascent campaign on women’s rights, we looked at those parallels closer to home. Another group vulnerable to modern slavery in the UK is children, especially those in care or experiencing difficult home lives – in our online session _County Lines and Modern Slavery_ we heard from police and other agencies working on the front line. ## **Women’s rights** To coincide with International Women’s Day in March, we held our first Women’s Seder – a joyous live event before the restrictions of lockdown. Our Seder Haggadah Companion called on _“the experiences of the women of the Passover narrative, who played a role in the redemption of the Israelites, and women who advocate for freedom and equality in the present day, to_ _inspire others to continue in their legacy”_ . **9** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## EDUCATIONAL WORK Our René Cassin - AJA Fellowship programme, the flagship of our educational activity, has been blest with a 2020 cohort of eleven exceptional fellows. The programme has not been blest with luck, however, and its delivery was affected by the restrictions brought about by Covid-19. But, despite the inevitable postponement of May’s study trip to Budapest, the programme has flourished online. The success of the Fellowship Programme led us to launch a cut-down version in our Ambassadors Programme in August. This enriching, leadership-orientated initiative to empower young Jewish human rights activists, attracted much interest and 16 Ambassadors joined our inaugural cohort. As lockdown started, we used the opportunity of the thirst for online engagement to provide community education in human rights issues and activism, publishing Suggested actions in the time of COVID-19 in April and Human Rights in Isolation – Top 15 recommendations to keep your mind active in May. This work with youth was amplified throughout the year through continued close collaboration with Jewish movements, synagogue cheders and the UJS. Our annual ‘Human Writes’ essay competition asked _“Why is genocide still happening, and what can we do to stop it?”_ , with the result announced on the anniversary of the UN’s adoption of the Genocide Convention on 9 December. We had a number of exceptionally impressive entries, including that from the winner Noah Lachs, which our judge, the journalist (Lord) Danny Finkelstein found “intellectually thrilling”. _**“Thank you for your amazing and very insightful talk on such a relevant issue. Whilst I had some knowledge on the topic, your in-depth yet summarised explanations really got me to understand the severity of what is happening. In short, thanks for being the most interesting zoom call I’ve had all month!”**_ **– Adam** **1** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## MEETING FUTURE CHALLENGES In response to the health crisis, and with a view to the post-virus world, we invited Rebecca Hilsenrath, then CEO of the Equality & Human Rights Commission, to lead a private roundtable of leading experts. The discussion examined current challenges facing human rights and explored the opportunities for strengthening them, especially social and economic rights in light of the inequalities exposed by the virus. This roundtable has fed into the conclusions of our July 2019 roundtable examining the prospects for improving socio-economic justice, and the work we have begun on women’s rights. As a result, our Trustee Board met on Monday 15 June and agreed the broad framework for a three-year strategy to mobilise the Jewish community to advocate for a thorough overhaul of human rights protections in the UK, to ensure social, economic, environmental, and racial justice. We will argue, as the charity named after its co-author, that key social, economic, and cultural rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were side-lined by the politics of the Cold War. With the pandemic exposing inequalities that climate change and racial injustice threaten to entrench further, we again face a ‘1945’ moment. We believe that civil and political rights alone are insufficient to provide a remedy, and that if ‘human rights’ remain narrowly defined they may risk irrelevance in any postvirus reshaping of society. In December we recruited a new Campaigns Officer to develop new campaigns on women’s rights and social justice. In these spheres, along with our existing campaigns, we will use our growing profile and convening power within and beyond the Jewish community to build consensus to advocate for fuller realisation of the rights laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. **2** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## HOW YOU CAN HELP René Cassin relies on its supporters for the funds to carry on its vital work. Please help ensure our voice is heard loudly and clearly by supporting us: - **Make a donation** – you can make a one-off gift through our website at www.renecassin.org/donate - Better still, **become a ‘Friend of René Cassin’** by making a monthly donation (via the ‘I’d like to give regularly’ option) www.renecassin.org/donate - Become an **Individual Patron** or **Corporate Supporter** – email the office for further details info@renecassin.org - **Get involved in our campaigns** – visit our website for more details - **Attend our events –** www.renecassin.org/category/events/ - **Volunteer with us** – email info@renecassin.org - **Sign up for our newsletter** at www.renecassin.org - **Follow us** on Twitter twitter.com/Rene_Cassin and Instagram www.instagram.com/rene.cassin/ and **like us** on Facebook www.facebook.com/renecassin - **Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about our work** **3** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## FINANCE |Revenue and Support|2020| |---|---| |Donations & legacies|131,964| |Investment income|2| |**Total revenue and support**|**131,966**| |Expenditure|2020| |Charitable activities|96,892| |Support costs|2,420| |Fundraising costs|21,525| |**Total expenditure**|**120,837**| ## **Many thanks to our supporters** Anglo Jewish Association Sigrid Rausing Trust London Borough of Barnet Sybil Shine Memorial Trust Bluston Charitable Settlement Shoresh Charitable Trust Humanitarian Trust Little Butterfly Foundation And to our individual SC & ME Morlands Charitable Trust £1,000 or more annually) and Pears Foundation And to our individual **Patrons** (who give £1,000 or more annually) and **Friends** (who give regular donations) **4** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## OUR PEOPLE ## **Our Staff** Mia Hasenson-Gross Executive Director Jessye Berkowitz-Werner Campaigns Officer (to December 2020) Moses Seitler Education & Community Engagement Officer (to December 2020) Debora Singer Human Rights Act Campaign Officer (volunteer) Sam Watson Development Manager (n.b. two new Campaigns Officers were recruited in November 2020, but did not take up posts until January 2021) ## **Our Trustees** Daniel Silverstone Chair Jeff Highfield Treasurer Justin Abbott Chalew (from March 2020) Caren Gestetner (to March 2020) Alexander Goldberg (to March 2020) Maya Jaffe (to March 2020) Lauren Keiles (from March 2020) Danielle Mason (from May 2020) Jonathan Metzer (from March 2020) Abigail Morris (from March 2020) Victoria Prais (to March 2020) Rachel Zaltzman ## **Our Advisory Council** Sylvie Bacquet Dr. Kishan Manocha Rabbi Tony Bayfield Rabbi David Mason Rabbi Dr. Naftali Brawer Rabbi Danny Rich Professor Geraldine van Bueren QC Rabbi David Rosen CBE Caroline Cassin Professor William Schabas OC Professor Margaret Greenfields Rabbi Dr. Norman Solomon Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner Yael Weisz-Rind Dr. Keith Kahn-Harris Professor Jay Winter Daniel Kingsley Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg Professor Francesca Klug OBE Dr. Reuven Ziegler Dr. Noam Lubell **14** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 ## LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION René Cassin is a UK charity registered on 5 January 2007 (number 1117472 as CCJO ReneCassin) and governed by a constitution amended 9 September 2013. Our office is located at 853 Finchley Road, London NW11 8LX. The charity is governed by the board of trustees listed on the previous page. Our constitution stipulates that there must be a minimum of three trustees at any time. There is no maximum limit to the number of trustees. René Cassin complies with all applicable UK law in recruiting and selecting new trustees to join its board. Trustees are normally elected by the members (who are the current trustees) of René Cassin at a general meeting. Trustees are appointed based on specific skills, experience and knowledge that will enable them to make a contribution to the management of the charity. These skills, experience and knowledge are first identified in the annual skills audit. When there is a specific gap identified, or a trustee with specific skills, experience and knowledge is approaching retirement, then a posting seeking to recruit a new trustee will be placed on a variety of independent voluntary sector websites, print or online publications. During the recruitment and selection process, René Cassin will ensure that prospective new trustees are eligible to act, do not have any conflicts of interest, and understand their responsibilities and René Cassin’s work. In particular, René Cassin pays heed to Charity Commission Guidance CC3: The Essential Trustee: What You need to Know, What You Need to Do. René Cassin’s board meets every two months to oversee the work of the charity, which the board delegates to its small staff team. All policies, such as risk register and safeguarding, are reviewed regularly and are up to date. **15** **René Cassin** – Annual Report 2020 The Jewish voice for human rights **René Cassin 853 Finchley Road London NW11 8LX** Registered charity number: **1117472** Telephone: **020 3621 5464** Email **info@renecassin.org** Website **www.renecassin.org** **16** **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1117472** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND** **UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** **FOR** ## **CCJO RENE CASSIN** Melinek Fine LLP Chartered Accountants First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 1DH **CCJO RENE CASSIN** **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ||**Page**| |---|---| |**Report of the Trustees**|1 to 2| |**Independent Examiner's Report**|3| |**Statement of Financial Activities**|4| |**Balance Sheet**|5| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|6 to 9| **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2020. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Objectives and aims** René Cassin, 'the Jewish voice for human rights', is a charity that uses Jewish experience and values to advocate for universal human rights, particularly on issues - such as discrimination, indefinite immigration detention, genocide and modern slavery - that strongly resonate with Jewish history and values. We achieve this through a combination of advocacy, policy analysis, public campaigning, education and building the capacity of activists to promote and protect human rights. As 'the Jewish voice for human rights', René Cassin works: - Within the Jewish community - building support for human rights values amongst British Jews. - In the wider community - bringing the authority of a Jewish perspective to human rights debates, especially on issues affecting vulnerable minorities. In furtherance of that object but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power to engage in political activity provided that the trustees are satisfied that the proposed activities will further the purposes of the charity to an extent justified by the resources committed and the activity is not the dominant means by which the charity carries out its object. ## **Public benefit** The Trustees confirm that it has complied with its duty under the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. ## **Volunteers** During the year there were 2 volunteers who supported the charity's work by helping with research, campaigning and education. ## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Charitable activities and future plans** Details of the campaigns and education drives undertaken by Rene Cassin, as well as Rene Cassin's plans for the future can be found on their website at www.renecassin.org. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Principal funding sources** The principal funding sources are grants from charitable foundations. ## **Reserves policy** The present level of funding is adequate to meet the trustees’ objects. The trustees consider the financial position of the charity to be satisfactory. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is governed by its constitution, amended 9 September 2013, and constitutes an unincorporated charity as defined by the Companies Act 2006. ## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** The trustees of the charity will appoint people once a year to serve as trustees including treasurer for a three-year term. A trustee will have a maximum tenure of two three-year terms. The trustees may also appoint any person who is willing to act as a trustee at any point during the year. Whatever portion of the year they serve will count as the first year of their three-year term. The trustees shall hold meetings at least three times each year. ## **Organisational structure** The number of trustees shall be not less than three but (unless otherwise determined by a resolution of the charity in general meeting) shall not be subject to any maximum. Page 1 F(*i THE YEAR ENDED 31 DE(EPIBER 2020 OU￿r￿j tre year the tnthes InyM1 trér assesslThJ ¥#1 th•l￿r$ tre to J coerab"cYHI . aryi a numbtr to nitwte trolr tsp)wre to t￿ risks. In paI￿CU￿1r, tt tru*eEs ha￿ flTh•Kfral ￿Ser￿*S fv to n*niffise tro tr* charlty hwlr¥J ts) curtall cease C(¢ratr￿ due to flLthotws in ￿ Ikw d iru*rn. wrth reL*h)n to c¢￿1.19, tr* ¢yganisath)n swirny to ty% thaTrJal cornlltkxls by tr* Co**1 crlss, an LthaKI.fxlrg ard *1 VI￿1￿. R¢g1Stor￿ Ch•f*y Trumber k117472 Prlndp•l •ddrM• 853 FI￿hleY Rood NWII 8L¥ V Pois (re*neJJ 31.3.20) M Jaffe (re49r￿ 31.3.20) A fsjdbug IrvJbJr& 31.3.20) C Ire*ntsJ 31.3.20) D Chalr R Zaltzrr4n S F A 14yrls 31.3.20) J HkJMdd J (awAntsJ 31.3.20) J A Chalew {aprt4rtyi 31.3.20) L Kdle5 laFWrt&Y 31.3.20) D mas￿ {appc4ntoJ 19.5.20) Mr Dan*1 Fi￿, FCA m￿1￿k Flr* LLP Flrst Ft¢f, Wir&cm 349 Regerts Park Road N3 IC*1 •K1 *n&l b*df ty, D TnJstre INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES OF CCJO RENE CASSIN Independent examiner's report to the trustees of CCJO Rene Cassin I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of CCJO Rene Cassin {the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2020. Responsibilities and basis of report A5 the charity trustee5 of the Trust you are resp)nsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requlrernents of the Charities Act 20111'lhe ACVI. I report In respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applKable DSrecUons glven by the Charity Commisaon under section 145(5llb) of the Act. Independent examiner'5 Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wlth the examination giving rne cause to believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respert of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Att,. or the accounts do not accord with those records,. or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Rewrtsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part tsf an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinatk)n to which attention should be drawn in this rep)rt in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mr Daniel Fine, FCA Melinek Fine LLP Chartered Accountsnts First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 IDH Page 3 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** |Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
**107,464**
Investment income
3
**2**
**Total**
**107,466**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
**21,525**
**Charitable activities**
Charitable activities
**74,812**
**Total**
**96,337**
**NET INCOME**
**11,129**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
**56,960**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**68,089**|Restricted
fund
£
**24,500**
**-**
**24,500**
**-**
**24,500**
**24,500**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**2020**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**131,964**
**2**
**131,966**
**21,525**
**99,312**
**120,837**
**11,129**
**56,960**
**68,089**|2019
Total
funds
£
127,035
4
127,039
23,078
92,171
115,249
11,790
45,170
56,960| |---|---|---|---| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 4 31 DECZMBER 2020 2020 Totsl funds 2019 T(tsl f￿15 Cag) at bank 69,227 99.227 Ar￿Mjnts falllrwj dL* {4U8) (30.000) {3L138) (840) 56,WJ PUNDS Unrestrthj furds nn ?.11.Q.8I. 2.Q.2 arKI *ve ¥grnJ ty: D SI￿4￿r￿. Trustte **CCJO RENE CASSIN** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. ## **Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions** The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland': - the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows. ## **Income** All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. ## **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. ## **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. ## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** |Donations
Gift aid
Grants
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:
Other grants|**2020**
**£**
**127,553**
**1,669**
**2,742**
**131,964 **
**2020**
**£**
**2,742**|2019
£
125,383
1,652
-
127,035
2019
£
-| |---|---|---| |||| continued... Page 6 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ## **3. INVESTMENT INCOME** |Deposit account interest|**2020**
2019
**£**
£
**2**
4| |---|---| ## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2020 nor for the year ended 31 December 2019. ## **Trustees' expenses** There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2020 nor for the year ended 31 December 2019. ## **5. STAFF COSTS** The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: ## **6.** |Employees
Volunteers
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
Unrestricted
fund
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
98,535
Investment income
4
**Total**
98,539
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
23,078
**Charitable activities**
Charitable activities
63,671
**Total**
86,749
**NET INCOME**
11,790
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
45,170
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
56,960||**2020**
**3**
**2**
**5**
Restricted
fund
£
28,500
-
28,500
-
28,500
28,500
-
-
-|2019
2
2
4
Total
funds
£
127,035
4
127,039
23,078
92,171
115,249
11,790
45,170
56,960| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||||| continued... Page 7 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** |**7.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other debtors
**8.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
**9.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|
At 1.1.20
£
**56,960**
**56,960**
Incoming
resources
£
**107,466**
**24,500**
**131,966**
At 1.1.19
£
45,170
45,170|| |---|---|---| continued... Page 8 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ## **9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
98,539
28,500
127,039|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(86,749)
11,790
(28,500)
-
(115,249)
11,790| |---|---|---| ## **10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2020. Page 9 **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1117472** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND** **UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** **FOR** ## **CCJO RENE CASSIN** Melinek Fine LLP Chartered Accountants First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 1DH **CCJO RENE CASSIN** **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ||**Page**| |---|---| |**Report of the Trustees**|1 to 2| |**Independent Examiner's Report**|3| |**Statement of Financial Activities**|4| |**Balance Sheet**|5| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|6 to 9| **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2020. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Objectives and aims** René Cassin, 'the Jewish voice for human rights', is a charity that uses Jewish experience and values to advocate for universal human rights, particularly on issues - such as discrimination, indefinite immigration detention, genocide and modern slavery - that strongly resonate with Jewish history and values. We achieve this through a combination of advocacy, policy analysis, public campaigning, education and building the capacity of activists to promote and protect human rights. As 'the Jewish voice for human rights', René Cassin works: - Within the Jewish community - building support for human rights values amongst British Jews. - In the wider community - bringing the authority of a Jewish perspective to human rights debates, especially on issues affecting vulnerable minorities. In furtherance of that object but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power to engage in political activity provided that the trustees are satisfied that the proposed activities will further the purposes of the charity to an extent justified by the resources committed and the activity is not the dominant means by which the charity carries out its object. ## **Public benefit** The Trustees confirm that it has complied with its duty under the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. ## **Volunteers** During the year there were 2 volunteers who supported the charity's work by helping with research, campaigning and education. ## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Charitable activities and future plans** Details of the campaigns and education drives undertaken by Rene Cassin, as well as Rene Cassin's plans for the future can be found on their website at www.renecassin.org. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Principal funding sources** The principal funding sources are grants from charitable foundations. ## **Reserves policy** The present level of funding is adequate to meet the trustees’ objects. The trustees consider the financial position of the charity to be satisfactory. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is governed by its constitution, amended 9 September 2013, and constitutes an unincorporated charity as defined by the Companies Act 2006. ## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** The trustees of the charity will appoint people once a year to serve as trustees including treasurer for a three-year term. A trustee will have a maximum tenure of two three-year terms. The trustees may also appoint any person who is willing to act as a trustee at any point during the year. Whatever portion of the year they serve will count as the first year of their three-year term. The trustees shall hold meetings at least three times each year. ## **Organisational structure** The number of trustees shall be not less than three but (unless otherwise determined by a resolution of the charity in general meeting) shall not be subject to any maximum. Page 1 F(*i THE YEAR ENDED 31 DE(EPIBER 2020 OU￿r￿j tre year the tnthes InyM1 trér assesslThJ ¥#1 th•l￿r$ tre to J coerab"cYHI . aryi a numbtr to nitwte trolr tsp)wre to t￿ risks. In paI￿CU￿1r, tt tru*eEs ha￿ flTh•Kfral ￿Ser￿*S fv to n*niffise tro tr* charlty hwlr¥J ts) curtall cease C(¢ratr￿ due to flLthotws in ￿ Ikw d iru*rn. wrth reL*h)n to c¢￿1.19, tr* ¢yganisath)n swirny to ty% thaTrJal cornlltkxls by tr* Co**1 crlss, an LthaKI.fxlrg ard *1 VI￿1￿. R¢g1Stor￿ Ch•f*y Trumber k117472 Prlndp•l •ddrM• 853 FI￿hleY Rood NWII 8L¥ V Pois (re*neJJ 31.3.20) M Jaffe (re49r￿ 31.3.20) A fsjdbug IrvJbJr& 31.3.20) C Ire*ntsJ 31.3.20) D Chalr R Zaltzrr4n S F A 14yrls 31.3.20) J HkJMdd J (awAntsJ 31.3.20) J A Chalew {aprt4rtyi 31.3.20) L Kdle5 laFWrt&Y 31.3.20) D mas￿ {appc4ntoJ 19.5.20) Mr Dan*1 Fi￿, FCA m￿1￿k Flr* LLP Flrst Ft¢f, Wir&cm 349 Regerts Park Road N3 IC*1 •K1 *n&l b*df ty, D TnJstre INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES OF CCJO RENE CASSIN Independent examiner's report to the trustees of CCJO Rene Cassin I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of CCJO Rene Cassin {the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2020. Responsibilities and basis of report A5 the charity trustee5 of the Trust you are resp)nsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requlrernents of the Charities Act 20111'lhe ACVI. I report In respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applKable DSrecUons glven by the Charity Commisaon under section 145(5llb) of the Act. Independent examiner'5 Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wlth the examination giving rne cause to believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respert of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Att,. or the accounts do not accord with those records,. or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Rewrtsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part tsf an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinatk)n to which attention should be drawn in this rep)rt in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mr Daniel Fine, FCA Melinek Fine LLP Chartered Accountsnts First Floor, Winston House 349 Regents Park Road London N3 IDH Page 3 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** |Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
**107,464**
Investment income
3
**2**
**Total**
**107,466**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
**21,525**
**Charitable activities**
Charitable activities
**74,812**
**Total**
**96,337**
**NET INCOME**
**11,129**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
**56,960**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**68,089**|Restricted
fund
£
**24,500**
**-**
**24,500**
**-**
**24,500**
**24,500**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**2020**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**131,964**
**2**
**131,966**
**21,525**
**99,312**
**120,837**
**11,129**
**56,960**
**68,089**|2019
Total
funds
£
127,035
4
127,039
23,078
92,171
115,249
11,790
45,170
56,960| |---|---|---|---| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 4 31 DECZMBER 2020 2020 Totsl funds 2019 T(tsl f￿15 Cag) at bank 69,227 99.227 Ar￿Mjnts falllrwj dL* {4U8) (30.000) {3L138) (840) 56,WJ PUNDS Unrestrthj furds nn ?.11.Q.8I. 2.Q.2 arKI *ve ¥grnJ ty: D SI￿4￿r￿. Trustte **CCJO RENE CASSIN** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. ## **Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions** The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland': - the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows. ## **Income** All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. ## **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. ## **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. ## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** |Donations
Gift aid
Grants
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:
Other grants|**2020**
**£**
**127,553**
**1,669**
**2,742**
**131,964 **
**2020**
**£**
**2,742**|2019
£
125,383
1,652
-
127,035
2019
£
-| |---|---|---| |||| continued... Page 6 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ## **3. INVESTMENT INCOME** |Deposit account interest|**2020**
2019
**£**
£
**2**
4| |---|---| ## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2020 nor for the year ended 31 December 2019. ## **Trustees' expenses** There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2020 nor for the year ended 31 December 2019. ## **5. STAFF COSTS** The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: ## **6.** |Employees
Volunteers
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
Unrestricted
fund
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
98,535
Investment income
4
**Total**
98,539
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
23,078
**Charitable activities**
Charitable activities
63,671
**Total**
86,749
**NET INCOME**
11,790
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
45,170
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
56,960||**2020**
**3**
**2**
**5**
Restricted
fund
£
28,500
-
28,500
-
28,500
28,500
-
-
-|2019
2
2
4
Total
funds
£
127,035
4
127,039
23,078
92,171
115,249
11,790
45,170
56,960| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||||| continued... Page 7 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** |**7.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other debtors
**8.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
**9.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|
At 1.1.20
£
**56,960**
**56,960**
Incoming
resources
£
**107,466**
**24,500**
**131,966**
At 1.1.19
£
45,170
45,170|| |---|---|---| continued... Page 8 **CCJO RENE CASSIN** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** ## **9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
98,539
28,500
127,039|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(86,749)
11,790
(28,500)
-
(115,249)
11,790| |---|---|---| ## **10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2020. Page 9