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{{Short description|International lawyer, writer, and executive director of UN Watch}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
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'''Hillel C. Neuer''' (born 1969/1970)<ref>{{cite news|last1=גרינשטיין|first1=אריק|title=הקול השפוי באו"ם: ראיון עם עו"ד הלל נוייר|url=https://mida.org.il/2013/11/27/%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%99-%D7%91%D7%90%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%A2%D7%9D-%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9C-%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A8/|accessdate=18 February 2018|agency=]|publisher=27/11/201|date=27 November 2013}} ("The sane voice at the UN: An interview with lawyer Hillel Neuer (''In Hebrew'')</ref> is a Canadian-born ],<ref name="Boyle2013">{{cite book|author=Francis Boyle|title=The Tamil Genocide by Sri Lanka: The Global Failure to Protect Tamil Rights Under International Law|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KrcHi8tlFwwC&pg=PT27|date=29 October 2013|publisher=SCB Distributors|isbn=978-0-932863-87-4|pages=27–|author-link=Francis Boyle}}</ref> writer, and the executive director of ], a ] ] and UN watchdog group based in ].<ref name="uwinnipeg">{{cite web|url=https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/hrsj-bio-neuer|title=Hillel Neuer Executive Director, UN Watch|year=2007|publisher=University of Winnipeg|accessdate=27 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329064404/http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/hrsj-bio-neuer|archive-date=29 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Raphael Israeli|title=Blood Libel and Its Derivatives: The Scourge of Anti-Semitism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKs0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT81|date=8 September 2017|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-29718-9|pages=81–|author-link=Raphael Israeli}}</ref><ref name="Makdisi Prashad 2016 p. 79">{{cite book | last1=Makdisi | first1=K. | last2=Prashad | first2=V. | title=Land of Blue Helmets: The United Nations and the Arab World | publisher=University of California Press | year=2016 | isbn=978-0-520-28693-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qpIkDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 | access-date=January 8, 2018 | page=79}}</ref><ref name="Hassan2010">{{cite book|author=Hussein D. Hassan|title=Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Oh9MbQX8dEC&pg=PP13|date=November 2010|publisher=DIANE Publishing|isbn=978-1-4379-3806-7|pages=13–}}</ref>
Hillel C. Neuer is the Executive Director<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.unwatch.org/home/hillelneuer/|title=Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch|work=UN Watch|access-date=2017-08-02|language=en-US}}</ref> of ], a human rights ] in ], ].

Neuer is the founding chairman of ], a coalition of 25 NGOs from around the world.<ref name="geneva-honor">{{cite web | last=Chernick | first=Ilanit | title=McGill to honor Hillel Neuer | website=The Jerusalem Post | date=May 9, 2018 | url=https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/McGill-to-honor-Hillel-Neuer-554872 | access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> He has written on law, politics and international affairs for the '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'',<ref name="uwinnipeg"/> and the ].<ref name="Baker 2012">{{cite web | last=Baker | first=Amb. Alan | title=The Demonization of Israel at the United Nations in Europe | website=Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs | date=June 27, 2012 | url=http://jcpa.org/demonization_of_israel_at_the_united_nations/ | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>

Neuer was selected as one of the "top 100 most influential Jewish people in the world" by Israeli newspaper ],<ref name="JUF">{{cite web | title=JUF News : Jewish Federation marks year of challenges and solutions at 116th Annual Meeting | website=JUF News | date=September 15, 2016 | url=https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=439966 | access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref> and by the '']'' in 2017. He is an outspoken defender of Israel<ref>{{cite web | last=Keats-Jaskoll | first=Shoshanna | title=A Zionist at the United Nations | website=The Jerusalem Post| date=April 13, 2016 | url=http://www.jpost.com/In-Jerusalem/A-Zionist-at-the-United-Nations-451154 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=UN Session on Gaza: Dictatorships Try to Silence UN Watch|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183294|accessdate=14 January 2018|publisher=]}}</ref> and critic of the ]' actions.<ref>{{cite web | title=Jewish eyes on the UN, says executive director of UN Watch | website=The Canadian Jewish News | date=January 10, 2016 | url=http://www.cjnews.com/news/canada/hillel-neuer-jewish-eyes-on-the-united-nations | access-date=September 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=U.N. Clash: China, Cuba, Russia, Pakistan, Venezuela Try to Shut Down Hillel Neuer|website=MidEastTruth |date=March 13, 2016| url=http://mideasttruth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12022}}</ref>

==Early life==
Neuer is from Montreal, Canada.<ref name="Edwards">{{cite news|last1=Edwards|first1=Steven|title=UN's 'noble Dream' A Nightmare|publisher=National Post|date=31 March 2007|id={{ProQuest|330512565}}}}</ref> He holds a BA in intellectual history and political science from ], a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws from the ], which he graduated in 1997,<ref name="ArnoldAnniversary">{{cite news|last1=Arnold|first1=Janice|title=Pro-Israel think tank CIJR marks 25th anniversary|url=http://www.cjnews.com/uncategorized/pro-israel-think-tank-cijr-marks-25th-anniversary|accessdate=9 January 2018|publisher=Canadian Jewish News|date=4 June 2013}}</ref> and a ] in ] from the ] of Jerusalem.<ref name="uwinnipeg"/>

Neuer worked at the pro-Israel think tank ] while he was an undergraduate at Concordia.<ref name="ArnoldAnniversary"/> He practiced commercial and civil rights litigation at the international law firm of ].<ref name="archive.li 2007">{{cite web | title=Paul, Weiss Achieves Another Victory for the California Public Utilities Commission in PG&E Bankruptcy Case | website=archive.li | date=20 July 2004| url=http://www.paulweiss.com/resources/news/detail.aspx?news=765 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20071019041542/http://www.paulweiss.com/resources/news/detail.aspx?news=765 | url-status=dead | archive-date=19 October 2007 | access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> Neuer is a member of the New York bar and co-author of the ''Annotated Copyright Act of Canada and Directors and Officers - A Canadian Legal Manual''.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Career==
{{expand section|date=September 2018}}

===Legal career===
Neuer served as a law clerk to the ] and a Graduate Fellow at the ] think tank.<ref name="Mondoweiss">{{cite web | title=Why Israel's Jewish nationality bill is a big deal | website=] | date=13 December 2014 | url=http://mondoweiss.net/2014/12/israels-jewish-nationality/ | access-date=2018-01-26}}</ref>

===Advocacy for Darfur victims at United Nations===
Neuer advocated at the United Nations for human rights victims in ].<ref name="RonenOrganization"/><ref>{{cite web | title=Australian Taxpayers' Alliance: The Rise and Fall of Human Rights at the UN | website=Atlas Network | date=August 24, 2015 | url=https://www.atlasnetwork.org/event/australian-taxpayers-alliance-the-rise-and-fall-of-human-rights-at-the-un | access-date=January 11, 2018 | archive-date=11 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111170028/https://www.atlasnetwork.org/event/australian-taxpayers-alliance-the-rise-and-fall-of-human-rights-at-the-un | url-status=dead }}</ref> Neuer chaired the NGO Activist Summit For Darfur in 2007.<ref name="Edwards"/> He challenged Sudan in 2007 for its rejection of human rights experts in Darfur and demanded justice for child victims in Darfur in 2005.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} In August 2007, Neuer was the keynote speaker at the ] Canada rally in Montreal.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}

===United Nations human rights testimony===
Neuer has represented human rights victims in testimony before the UN Human Rights Council, a body which he highly criticized.<ref name="The Forward 2017">{{cite web | title=Community - It's Israel-Bashing Season Again At The U.N. | website=The Forward | date=December 11, 2017 | url=https://forward.com/scribe/389701/its-israel-bashing-season-again-at-the-un/ | access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> Neuer is noted for his "scathing commentary" on UNHCR's track record on human rights.<ref name="RonenOrganization">{{cite news|last1=Ronen|first1=Moshe|title=UN rights agency can censor speech, but can't hide truth; International community urged to condemn deplorable, corrupt organization|publisher=]|date=16 April 2007|id={{ProQuest|253403321}}}}</ref><ref name="HumanRightsTravesty">{{cite news|title='Rights' travesty; There wasn't much horn-blowing this month to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations' Human Rights Council.|publisher=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=28 March 2016|id={{ProQuest|1776260438}}}}</ref><ref name="Ghitis">{{cite news|last1=Frida Ghitis|author-link=Frida Ghitis|title=The Human Rights Council is a tragic joke|url=http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/the_human_rights_council_is_a.html|accessdate=11 January 2018|publisher=Cleveland Plain Dealer|date=5 July 2010}}</ref> His outspoken advocacy for student Yevgeniya "Jenya" Taranenko preceded her release from a Russian prison. Neuer debated Zimbabwe's UN ambassador on CNN over the Mugabe regime's human rights record. In 2007 he spoke out for the Arab, Kurdish, and ] victims of violations in Iran. In 2004 he spoke out on victims of torture and censorship in Côte d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Neuer also spoke out for the Lebanese victims of Syrian political assassinations and against the rape and enslavement of women in Syria and Iraq; state-sanctioned limits on the movements, education and employment of women in Iran; and the repression of speech in Saudi Arabia.<ref name="NYT2016">{{cite web | last=Joseph | first=Yonette | title=After Making Mugabe a 'Good-Will Ambassador,' W.H.O. Chief Is 'Rethinking' It | website=The New York Times | date=May 7, 2016 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/world/africa/robert-mugabe-goodwill-ambassador-who.html | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="NYT2006">{{cite web | last=Wright | first=Tom | title=Homepage - International Herald Tribune | website=The New York Times | date=June 19, 2006 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/19/world/19iht-rights.2005323.html | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Hoge | first=Warren | title=Dismay Over New U.N. Human Rights Council | website=The New York Times | date=March 11, 2007 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/world/11rights.html | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="HumanRightsTravesty"/>

Neuer is known in particular for criticizing the attitude of the UNHCR towards Israel, in his view, the UNHCR seeks "to demonize Israeli democracy, to delegitimize the Jewish state, to scapegoat the Jewish people. They also seek something else: To distort and pervert the very language and idea of human rights."<ref name="RonenOrganization"/>

===Erroneous arrest during 2007 U.S. visit===
On November 1, 2007, Neuer presented a report on the United Nations and ] at the invitation of ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yale.edu/yiisa/seminars.htm |title=The Yale Initiative for the Study of Anti-Semitism - Home Page |publisher=Yale.edu |date= |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825012156/http://www.yale.edu/yiisa/seminars.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The day after giving his presentation, Neuer visited a local restaurant in ], where an employee called the police and falsely reported that Neuer was carrying a gun, leading the police to take him into custody.<ref name="vennochi2007">{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/11/08/too_suspicious_in_suburbia/ | work=] | title=Too suspicious in suburbia | first=Joan | last=Vennochi | date=November 8, 2007}}</ref> On the next business day, the ] court fully cleared Neuer and ruled that the police had acted without probable cause.<ref name="vennochi2007"/> Initial media reports of a "stand-off" were found to be false and police confirmed that Neuer himself had called 911 twice seeking to exit from the police action that he believed was in pursuit of criminals near the restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|last=Heldt |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1042864 |title=I never threatened anyone |publisher=BostonHerald.com |date=2007-11-06 |accessdate=2010-08-14}}</ref> "Mr. Neuer was an innocent victim who went to a restaurant in Needham and was traumatized and almost killed," said Neuer's attorney David G. Eisenstadt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1042854 |title=Judge dismisses charge against man caught during Needham frenzy |publisher=BostonHerald.com |date=2007-11-06 |accessdate=2010-08-14}}</ref> On March 31, 2008, the Town of Needham, on behalf of the police, sent Mr. Neuer a full apology, saying he was "an innocent victim caught up in the events of that day."<ref>{{cite web | last=Ryan | first=Steven | title=Hillel Neuer receives apology letter | website=Needham Times | date=January 28, 2010 | url=http://needham.wickedlocal.com/article/20100128/news/301289364 | access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref>

===2009 Toronto Film Festival===
{{main|2009 Toronto International Film Festival#Controversy over Tel Aviv spotlight}}
In 2009 Hillel Neuer became involved in the controversy over Israel's marketing campaign at the ]. Neuer spoke out against the involvement of activist ] in protests.<ref name="GlobeAndMailSept82009">{{cite news|author=Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/tiff-2009/tiff-focus-on-tel-aviv-draws-protests/article1273755/ |title=TIFF focus on Tel Aviv draws protests |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date= 2009-09-02|accessdate=2010-08-14 |location=Toronto}}</ref> Neuer wrote: "Supporters of liberal democratic values may have a hard time understanding why anti-globalization activist Naomi Klein has recruited ] and other stars to boycott the Toronto International Film Festival for the crime of showing films from ]."<ref name="nationalpost1">{{cite web|url=http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2009/09/15/the-strange-enduring-rage-of-naomi-klein/ |title=Hillel Neuer: The strange, enduring rage of Naomi Klein - Full Comment |publisher=Network.nationalpost.com |date= 15 September 2009|accessdate=2010-08-14}}</ref> Neuer's UN Watch published a report on its website entitled "Naomi Klein Exposed: The Unauthorized Biography".<ref name="unwatch1">{{cite web |date= |title=Naomi Klein Exposed: The Unauthorized Biography |url=http://secure.unwatch.org/site/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.5438451/k.64F0/Naomi_Klein_Exposed_The_Unauthorized_Biography.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822191857/http://secure.unwatch.org/site/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.5438451/k.64F0/Naomi_Klein_Exposed_The_Unauthorized_Biography.htm |archive-date=2016-08-22 |accessdate=2010-08-14 |publisher=UN Watch}}</ref> '']'' published a response from ]. Rebick wrote: "Naomi Klein didn't start the protest, but she used her contacts and her celebrity to make it more effective. The focus is on her because she is today one of the most prominent Jewish intellectuals in the world, and she is starting to be vocal in her criticism of Israeli human rights violations. She is risking a lot to speak out so passionately on this subject."{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Coverage and reception==
Neuer has appeared before the ] for a range of causes including the rape victims of ], ], and Middle East peace. He testified as an expert witness before hearings of the U.S. Congress on UN reform in 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soRHvJ9paig |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/soRHvJ9paig| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title= U.S. Congress: U.N. Watch's Hillel Neuer Testifies for U.N. Reform|website=] }}{{cbignore}}</ref> and 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIMzqfYNw9Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/fIMzqfYNw9Y| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=UN Watch's Hillel Neuer Testifies at U.S. Congress: "The State of Human Rights at the U.N."|website=] }}{{cbignore}}</ref> and is regularly quoted by major media outlets including the '']'',<ref name="NYT2006"/> '']'',<ref name="aj-rizkjan">{{cite web|url= http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/rizkhan/2008/09/200892454624525805.html |title="Anti-racism summit" row|date=September 2008|publisher=Aljazeera.net|accessdate=27 January 2010}}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{cite web | last=Welt | first=Die | title=Vereinte Nationen: Gaddafi zieht in UN-Menschenrechtsrat ein | website=] | date=October 3, 2015 | url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article7617830/Gaddafi-zieht-in-UN-Menschenrechtsrat-ein.html | language=de | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> '']'',<ref name="lefigaro.fr 2008">{{cite web | author=lefigaro.fr | title=Conseil des droits de l'homme : la France en concurrence | website=Le Figaro| date=May 20, 2008 | url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2008/05/20/01003-20080520ARTFIG00574-conseil-des-droits-de-l-homme-la-france-en-concurrence.php | language=fr | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web | author=Reuters Editorial | title=Iran defends post as chair of U.N. disarmament conference | website=U.S. | date=May 14, 2013 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-un-usa/iran-defends-post-as-chair-of-u-n-disarmament-conference-idUSBRE94D0P120130514 | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> '']''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/844/eg3.htm |title=Al-Ahram Weekly &#124; Egypt &#124; Newsreel |publisher=Weekly.ahram.org.eg |date=2007-05-16 |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804042601/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/844/eg3.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web | last=Bruce | first=Tammy | title=Rape, sex trafficking, spread of disease highlight horrors on UN's watch | website=Fox News | date=December 28, 2017 | url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rape-sex-trafficking-spread-of-disease-highlight-horrors-on-uns-watch/ | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> Neuer has debated UN human rights issues on ], ] and ], and some of his talks at the UN panel went viral.<ref name="Scoop News 2017">{{cite web | title=The Top 10 Most Evil U.N. Actions of 2017 | website=Scoop News | date=December 27, 2017 | url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1712/S00269/the-top-10-most-evil-un-actions-of-2017.htm | access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Heilman | first=Uriel | title=4 videos on the Gaza war that have pro-Israel viewers cheering | website=] | date=July 29, 2014 | url=https://www.jta.org/2014/07/29/default/4-videos-on-the-gaza-war-that-have-pro-israel-viewers-cheering | access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> While working at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Neuer was cited by the ] for the high quality of his pro bono advocacy.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In a 2014 article in '']'', ] described Neuer as a man who "struggles valiantly and successfully to expose the truth about human rights as practiced in the United Nations and other so-called civil rights NGOs."<ref name="MedadPrint">{{cite news|last1=Medad|first1=Yisrael|title=Views which are not fit to print|publisher=Jerusalem Post|date=6 March 2014|id={{ProQuest|1508635841}}}}</ref> He is a regular on the speaking circuit.<ref name="SimonJCC">{{cite news|last1=Simon|first1=Nicole|title=AIPAC event brings U.N. Watch's Hillel Neuer to JCC|publisher=]|date=30 March 2011|id={{ProQuest|1024997205}}}}</ref>

In 2016, the City of Chicago and Mayor ] adopted a resolution declaring "Hillel Neuer Day"<ref></ref><ref name="JUF"/> recognizing "one of the world’s foremost human rights advocates," and for his contributions to "promote peace, justice and human rights around the world."<ref name="UN Watch 2016">{{cite web | title=City of Chicago declares today "Hillel Neuer Day" | website=UN Watch | date=September 15, 2016 | url=https://www.unwatch.org/city-chicago-declares-today-hillel-neuer-day/ | access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>

In 2017, the '']'' selected him as one of "the top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life".<ref>{{cite web | title=The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2017 | website=Algemeiner.com | date=2017-09-14 | url=https://www.algemeiner.com/the-top-100-people-positively-influencing-jewish-life-2017/ | access-date=2018-02-16 | archive-date=25 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025203358/https://www.algemeiner.com/the-top-100-people-positively-influencing-jewish-life-2017/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In June 2018, Neuer was the recipient of McGill University's highest honorary doctorate degree, Doctorate of Laws, for his work at the ]. He dedicated the award to dissidents and political prisoners, among them was Chinese activist ] who praised Neuer as "one of the world’s most committed, energetic human rights leaders."<ref>{{cite web | title=Geneva Summit Recognized as McGill Awards Honorary Doctorate to Hillel Neuer | website=Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy | date=June 5, 2018 | url=https://www.genevasummit.org/geneva-summit-recognized-as-mcgill-awards-honorary-doctorate-to-hillel-neuer/ | access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name="geneva-honor"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{twitter|HillelNeuer}}
*{{facebook|hillelneuer}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.unwatch.org/home/hillelneuer/|title=Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch|publisher=}}
*{{cite web | author=Philologos | title=The Great Bagel(ing) Mystery Has Been Solved! | website=The Forward | date=October 27, 2013 | url=https://forward.com/culture/186101/the-great-bageling-mystery-has-been-solved/}}
* at ]
* at ]
* at the ]
* in ]
*, testimony by Hillel Neuer, Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, February 2, 2017

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neuer, Hillel}}
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Latest revision as of 01:40, 10 November 2024

International lawyer, writer, and executive director of UN Watch

Hillel Neuer
BornMontreal, Quebec, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Alma materConcordia University (BA)
McGill University (BCL LLB)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (LLM)
OccupationExecutive director of UN Watch

Hillel C. Neuer (born 1969/1970) is a Canadian-born international lawyer, writer, and the executive director of UN Watch, a human rights NGO and UN watchdog group based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Neuer is the founding chairman of Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a coalition of 25 NGOs from around the world. He has written on law, politics and international affairs for the International Herald Tribune, Juriste International, Commentary, The New Republic, Christian Science Monitor, and the Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs.

Neuer was selected as one of the "top 100 most influential Jewish people in the world" by Israeli newspaper Maariv, and by the Algemeiner Journal in 2017. He is an outspoken defender of Israel and critic of the UN's human rights councils' actions.

Early life

Neuer is from Montreal, Canada. He holds a BA in intellectual history and political science from Concordia University, a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws from the McGill University Faculty of Law, which he graduated in 1997, and a Master of Laws in comparative constitutional law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Neuer worked at the pro-Israel think tank Canadian Institute for Jewish Research while he was an undergraduate at Concordia. He practiced commercial and civil rights litigation at the international law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Neuer is a member of the New York bar and co-author of the Annotated Copyright Act of Canada and Directors and Officers - A Canadian Legal Manual.

Career

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Legal career

Neuer served as a law clerk to the Supreme Court of Israel and a Graduate Fellow at the Shalem Center think tank.

Advocacy for Darfur victims at United Nations

Neuer advocated at the United Nations for human rights victims in Darfur. Neuer chaired the NGO Activist Summit For Darfur in 2007. He challenged Sudan in 2007 for its rejection of human rights experts in Darfur and demanded justice for child victims in Darfur in 2005. In August 2007, Neuer was the keynote speaker at the Save Darfur Canada rally in Montreal.

United Nations human rights testimony

Neuer has represented human rights victims in testimony before the UN Human Rights Council, a body which he highly criticized. Neuer is noted for his "scathing commentary" on UNHCR's track record on human rights. His outspoken advocacy for student Yevgeniya "Jenya" Taranenko preceded her release from a Russian prison. Neuer debated Zimbabwe's UN ambassador on CNN over the Mugabe regime's human rights record. In 2007 he spoke out for the Arab, Kurdish, and Baháʼí victims of violations in Iran. In 2004 he spoke out on victims of torture and censorship in Côte d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Neuer also spoke out for the Lebanese victims of Syrian political assassinations and against the rape and enslavement of women in Syria and Iraq; state-sanctioned limits on the movements, education and employment of women in Iran; and the repression of speech in Saudi Arabia.

Neuer is known in particular for criticizing the attitude of the UNHCR towards Israel, in his view, the UNHCR seeks "to demonize Israeli democracy, to delegitimize the Jewish state, to scapegoat the Jewish people. They also seek something else: To distort and pervert the very language and idea of human rights."

Erroneous arrest during 2007 U.S. visit

On November 1, 2007, Neuer presented a report on the United Nations and antisemitism at the invitation of Yale University. The day after giving his presentation, Neuer visited a local restaurant in Needham, Massachusetts, where an employee called the police and falsely reported that Neuer was carrying a gun, leading the police to take him into custody. On the next business day, the Norfolk County court fully cleared Neuer and ruled that the police had acted without probable cause. Initial media reports of a "stand-off" were found to be false and police confirmed that Neuer himself had called 911 twice seeking to exit from the police action that he believed was in pursuit of criminals near the restaurant. "Mr. Neuer was an innocent victim who went to a restaurant in Needham and was traumatized and almost killed," said Neuer's attorney David G. Eisenstadt. On March 31, 2008, the Town of Needham, on behalf of the police, sent Mr. Neuer a full apology, saying he was "an innocent victim caught up in the events of that day."

2009 Toronto Film Festival

Main article: 2009 Toronto International Film Festival § Controversy over Tel Aviv spotlight

In 2009 Hillel Neuer became involved in the controversy over Israel's marketing campaign at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Neuer spoke out against the involvement of activist Naomi Klein in protests. Neuer wrote: "Supporters of liberal democratic values may have a hard time understanding why anti-globalization activist Naomi Klein has recruited Jane Fonda and other stars to boycott the Toronto International Film Festival for the crime of showing films from Tel Aviv." Neuer's UN Watch published a report on its website entitled "Naomi Klein Exposed: The Unauthorized Biography". National Post published a response from Judy Rebick. Rebick wrote: "Naomi Klein didn't start the protest, but she used her contacts and her celebrity to make it more effective. The focus is on her because she is today one of the most prominent Jewish intellectuals in the world, and she is starting to be vocal in her criticism of Israeli human rights violations. She is risking a lot to speak out so passionately on this subject."

Coverage and reception

Neuer has appeared before the UN Human Rights Council for a range of causes including the rape victims of Darfur, political prisoners in Cuba, and Middle East peace. He testified as an expert witness before hearings of the U.S. Congress on UN reform in 2007 and 2011, and is regularly quoted by major media outlets including the New York Times, Al Jazeera, Die Welt, Le Figaro, Reuters, Al Ahram and Fox News. Neuer has debated UN human rights issues on CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, and some of his talks at the UN panel went viral. While working at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Neuer was cited by the U.S. Federal Court for the high quality of his pro bono advocacy.

In a 2014 article in The Jerusalem Post, Yisrael Medad described Neuer as a man who "struggles valiantly and successfully to expose the truth about human rights as practiced in the United Nations and other so-called civil rights NGOs." He is a regular on the speaking circuit.

In 2016, the City of Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel adopted a resolution declaring "Hillel Neuer Day" recognizing "one of the world’s foremost human rights advocates," and for his contributions to "promote peace, justice and human rights around the world."

In 2017, the Algemeiner Journal selected him as one of "the top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life".

In June 2018, Neuer was the recipient of McGill University's highest honorary doctorate degree, Doctorate of Laws, for his work at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. He dedicated the award to dissidents and political prisoners, among them was Chinese activist Yang Jianli who praised Neuer as "one of the world’s most committed, energetic human rights leaders."

References

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