August 27, 2009 – New York – AJC mourns the passing of Leo Nevas, a distinguished attorney and human rights activist, who graced AJC with wisdom and good counsel for six decades. Nevas, 97, practiced law for 73 years in Westport, Connecticut.

“Leo’s enthusiastic dedication to Jewish well-being and human rights left an indelible mark on our collective impact at the UN and around the world,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

During his lifelong engagement with AJC, Nevas served as chair of AJC‘s Board of Governors, as well as of the global advocacy organization’s International Relations Commission.

As chair of AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of International Human Rights, Nevas stood at the forefront of the struggle for human dignity for all. He valued the UN’s potential to advance human rights, and often advocated for U.S. leadership in protecting human rights.

Earlier in his career, Nevas was a courageous activist on behalf of dissidents and Jews in the Soviet Union.  During visits to the Soviet Union, Nevas often smuggled information and messages to and from the USSR, despite intimidation and threats. His actions provided a critical link for dissidents and refuseniks with the broader human rights community.

In 2007, the United Nations Association of the USA recognized his life-long leadership in human rights by creating the Leo Nevas Human Rights Program and Award, and Nevas was the inaugural recipient.

AJC extends condolences to his grieving family, among them son-in-law Michael Price, who is also a member of AJC’s Board of Governors.