Leah Levin, a pioneering British human rights advocate and author of the influential 1981 book “Human Rights: Questions and Answers,” passed away on May 25 in London at age 98. Her book, a fundamental resource translated into 36 languages, remains a cornerstone in human rights education.
Born in Lithuania in 1926, Levin’s journey began with her family fleeing to South Africa to escape antisemitism. Later, she and her family left Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) for Britain, where she became a prominent figure in the human rights community, working alongside leaders like Martin Ennals of Amnesty International.
As director of the legal reform group Justice, Levin was instrumental in the case of the Birmingham Six, advocating for the men wrongfully convicted of bombings in 1974. Her dedication to justice was evident throughout her life, culminating in her co-founding Redress, an organization supporting survivors of torture.
Levin’s legacy includes the Martin Ennals Award for human rights defenders and being named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001. She is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
