Acclaimed human rights expert William Korey, Ph.D., died on August 26 at the age of 87.

A leading authority on human rights, Dr. Korey played an integral role in the long struggle for international implementation of the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the first international law of its kind. He spent much of his career leading B’nai B’rith International’s efforts to achieve ratification of the genocide treaty by the United States and other nations. When the treaty was finally ratified by the United States on November 4, 1988, Dr. Korey was one of a select group invited to the signing by then president Ronald Reagan.

Dr. Korey became the founding director of B’nai B’rith International’s United Nations office in 1960 and continued in that role, and additional professional leadership positions. until 1977 when he became director of the organization’s Department of International Policy Research, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.

A former professor at City College of New York, Columbia University, Yeshiva University, and Brooklyn College, Dr. Korey moved into the human rights field in the mid 1950s, when he became director of the Illinois-Missouri Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith (ADL).

A noted scholar and frequent lecturer at universities around the world, Dr. Korey holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago and both a masters and a Ph.D. from Columbia University, where he was admitted to the first class of the Russian Institute, now the Harriman Institute. When Jews were harassed and discriminated against in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, Dr. Korey led B’nai B’rith efforts to allow Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel.

He was also an interpreter of the role and biographer of Raphael Lemkin, the man who introduced the word "genocide" to the world. Dr. Korey’s articles on human rights, the United Nations, and the Soviet Union have been published in a wide array of national magazines, professional journals, and major newspapers. One of his most recent articles was a 2008 essay on the impact of the genocide treaty for B’nai B’rith Magazine.

In December, 2008, B’nai B’rith International honored Dr. Korey with the inaugural presentation of its Champion of Human Rights Award. In presenting the award, B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said, “Bill is one of the true leaders and thinkers of the Soviet Jewry movement. A prolific author and lecturer on human rights issues, Bill has been an inspiration to thousands of oppressed people.”

B’nai B’rith President Moishe Smith called Dr. Korey, “one of the great Jewish communal servants of the 20th century. B’nai B’rith was fortunate to have had him as a key member of our professional staff.”

In commenting upon Dr. Korey’s death, Mariaschin, who worked with him at both the ADL and B’nai B’rith, recalled, “For virtually my entire professional career, I have been privileged to consider Bill a friend and mentor. He is a valued colleague to so many B’nai B’rith leaders and staff members around the world. He will be truly missed.”

A memorial service will be held October 19 at 5 p.m. at the Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th Street, New York, New York 10011. Contributions may be made to B’nai B’rith International, 2020 K Street NW 7th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006, or the William Korey Fund of the American Jewish Historical Society (address is above).

NOTE: Photo with Dr. Korey and President Reagan available upon request.