Stéphane Hessel

Stefan Friedrich Kaspar Hessel was born in Berlin, the son of journalist Helen (née Grund) and writer Franz Hessel, who inspired the characters of Jules and Kathe in Henri-Pierre Roché's novel Jules and Jim[4] (Kathe was called Catherine in the subsequent film adaptation by François Truffaut).[8] Hessel, F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas and Harry Peulevé as well as Eugen Kogon and Alfred Balachowsky, escaped execution at Buchenwald through the help of KZ Kapo Arthur Dietzsch, who exchanged their identities with three prisoners who had died of typhus.He later escaped during a transfer to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp,[4] and went to Hannover, where he met the advancing troops of the United States Army.After the war, Hessel became assistant to Henri Laugier, vice-secretary general of the United Nations in charge of economic and social affairs, and was an observer to the editing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.In 2003, along with other former Resistance members, he signed the petition "For a Treaty of a Social Europe" and in August 2006, he was a signatory to an appeal against the Israeli air-strikes in Lebanon.On 5 January 2009, Hessel criticized the Israeli military attacks in the Gaza strip, saying "In fact, the word that applies—that should be applied—is 'war crime' and even 'crime against humanity'.For my part, having visited Gaza, having seen the refugee camps with thousands of children, the manner in which they are bombed appears as a veritable crime against humanity."Hessel's reasons for personal outrage include the growing gap between the very rich and the very poor, France's treatment of its illegal immigrants, the need to re-establish a free press, the need to protect the environment, importance of protecting the French welfare system,[8] and the plight of Palestinians, recommending that people read the September 2009 Goldstone Report.Ongoing protests in Mexico challenging corruption, drug cartel violence, economic hardship and policies also have been called the Indignados.[25] Similarly, 2013 protests in Brazil have taken place questioning the government's corruption and its capability of managing public transport, health and education.Having seen "firsthand the Jews' suffering" as a Holocaust survivor, he clarified that he wished to see Israelis' safety guaranteed by a responsible government."[30] French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault paid tribute to him in the following terms: "In France, in Europe, in the world, Stephane Hessel was the spirit of resistance incarnate.
Hessel addressing a UNESCO conference, Paris (2011)
Square Hessel plaque at Brussels university campus.
BerlinGerman EmpireHuman rights advocacyFrench ResistanceBuchenwaldTime for Outrage!Franz HesselLegion of HonourOrdre du MériteNorth–South PrizeUNESCO/Bibao Prizeconcentration campResistancenaturalisedUniversal Declaration of Human RightsForeign Policyeconomic inequalitiesIsraeli–Palestinian conflictsocial visionIndignadosArab SpringOccupy Wall StreetHenri-Pierre RochéJules and JimFrançois TruffautLutheran churchemigratedbaccalauréatÉcole Normale SupérieureSaint-Maixent-l'ÉcoleBoris Mirkin-GetzevichVichy governmentPhilippe PétainCharles de GaulleBureau central de renseignement et d'actionAllied invasion of FranceGestapoDora concentration campstorturedwaterboardingF. F. E. Yeo-ThomasHarry PeulevéEugen KogonAlfred BalachowskyArthur Dietzschhanged in reprisalBergen-Belsen concentration campHannoverUnited States Armyregulatory agencyaudio-visualdiplomatic passportInternational Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the WorldCollegium InternationalCommission nationale consultative des droits de l'hommeIsraeli air-strikes in LebanonEuropean Jews for a Just PeaceLibérationNorth-South PrizeCouncil of EuropeNational Council of ResistanceGrand Officier de la Légion d'honneurGrand Cross of the Order of Meritprovide housingPlace de la RepubliqueUNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human RightsUNESCOIsraeli military attacksGaza stripwar crimecrime against humanityGenevaHigh Commissioner for Human Rightsrefugee campseditionSlovenianThe Nationillegal immigrantsfree presswelfare systemPalestiniansSpanish protestsGreeceIsraelNew York's financial districthas now spreadprotests in Mexico2013 protests in BrazilFrankfurter Allgemeine ZeitungHa'aretztwo state solutionPalestinian stateFrancois HollandeJean-Marc AyraultUnited Nations Human Rights Councilmoment of silenceTagesspiegelUllstein Buchverlage GmbHWayback Machinearchive.todaySiOL.netZ MagazineJuan GonzálezDemocracy Now!