Member-only story

The Life and Legacy of Beate Sirota Gordon: A Champion of Human Rights

Easton Powell

·16.5k Followers· Follow

Published in Last Boat To Yokohama: The Life And Legacy Of Beate Sirota Gordon

4 min read · 3 weeks before

377 View Claps

33 Respond

Save

Listen

Beate Sirota Gordon was a Japanese-American woman who played a pivotal role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Her tireless efforts to promote human rights and equality left an enduring legacy on the world.

Last Boat to Yokohama: The Life and Legacy of Beate Sirota Gordon

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1716 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	172 pages

Early Life and Education

Beate Sirota was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1923. Her father was a Japanese diplomat and her mother was an Austrian artist. Sirota grew up in a privileged household, but she was also exposed to the horrors of war and discrimination. In 1938, she witnessed the Nazi annexation of Austria and the persecution of Jews. This experience had a profound impact on her, and it inspired her to dedicate her life to fighting for human rights.

Sirota attended college in the United States, where she studied political science and international relations. She graduated from Mills College in 1944 and went on to earn a master's degree from Columbia University.

Career at the United Nations

In 1946, Sirota joined the United Nations Secretariat. She was assigned to work on the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was a monumental task, and Sirota played a key role in ensuring that the Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly in 1948.

Sirota's work on the Declaration of Human Rights was not without its challenges. She faced opposition from some delegates who did not believe that human rights were universal. However, Sirota was undeterred, and she worked tirelessly to build consensus. She also played a key role in drafting the preamble to the Declaration, which sets out the principles of human rights and freedoms.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the most important documents in history. It has inspired and influenced countless people around the world. Sirota's work on the Declaration left a lasting legacy on the world, and she is remembered as a champion of human rights.

Later Life and Legacy

After leaving the United Nations, Sirota continued to work for human rights. She served as a member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights and the International Commission of Jurists. She also founded the Beate Sirota Gordon Foundation, which supports organizations working to promote human rights.

Sirota died in 2012 at the age of 89. She left behind a legacy of human rights advocacy and social justice. She is remembered as a pioneer for human rights and an inspiration to all who work for a more just and equitable world.

Last Boat to Yokohama: The Life and Legacy of Beate Sirota Gordon

4 out of 5