So many wonderful groups are promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mary Wald with TheCommunity.com, in conjunction with Noble Peace Prize winners, is doing some amazing things. Check it out her recent video of a human rights photo shoot for a campaign called Aid Still Required.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, which was this past week on March 8th, I want to recognize the contributions of women to human rights and human rights education. Women have the power and the voice to influence the observation of human rights around the world, and to raise future generations of human rights supporters. Some of the women I admire most for their contributions to human rights:
This is a great time to celebrate the women who have added meaning to your life. I hope you will share your stories with us.
More on International Women’s Day here.
Countries of the world agreed after WWII that we needed a global understanding of human rights. This is because all human beings are entitled to the same level of dignity and respect. The UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which sets forth 30 rights that all people have, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, etc.
The need for a common understanding of the definition of human rights is necessary and is illustrated by China’s President Hu Jintao’s comments yesterday during his trip to the US. Mr Hu acknowledged that “a lot still needs to be done in China in terms of human rights” – which is true – but he did not count release of Noble Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo as one of those thing. Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in a Chinese prison for co-authoring an appeal for democratic freedoms – something the Chinese government felt was “subversive to state powers.” Of course, freedom of speech is a basic human right recognized by the Universal Declaration.
A good article on this dichotomy can be found here.
Exercise of one’s human rights is not something that is subversive to state powers. Rather, it should form the basis for state powers. Strong people and strong states come when people know and respect each others’ human rights.
December 10th, International Human Rights Day, was a very successful event for both our Nairobi, Kenya and Colorado, USA groups. The Africa Foundation worked in conjunction with The Kenya Youth Development Trust and the Kenya Law Society to host over 130 people at the Aquinas High School in Nairobi. The entertainment and education on human rights were terrific!
Thirty people braved the VERY cold weather in Colorado for a pre-walk presentation by Douglas County commissioner and a professor and human rights expert from the University of Denver Korbel School of International Studies. The group then did a short walk and ended with pizza and human rights education. The event drew students from Castle View, Douglas County and Ponderosa High Schools.
Thanks to everyone who participated in and contributed to these events! More soon on the global 
turnout.
Check out this new song from Dustin McGahee, written and recorded for the International Walk event.
Lyrics
We have 30 ways to protect our light,
And many barriers that we go on despite.
And so we walk, and so we fight,
We will not lose one Human Right
Chorus
10,000 people walk day and night
10,000 voices for Human Rights
Singing we are the hope, we are the fight
10,000 voices for Human Rights
Oh, so many things we see today
Take color from the world, it can look so gray
But we are the people, we have the choice,
All around the world, we are the voice singing
Chorus
10,000 people walk day and night
10,000 voices for Human Rights
Singing we are the hope, we are the fight
10,000 voices for Human Rights
We are all so different
Unique in our own ways
But when it comes to dignity
We all deserve the same
Chorus 3x
10,000 people walk day and night
10,000 voices for Human Rights
Singing we are the hope, we are the fight
10,000 voices for Human Rights
A fun-filled night of Kenya food, music, dancing and fashion ushered in a talk on “What are Human Rights, Anyway?” The event was co-sponsored by the Africa Foundation for Human Rights & Tolerance (East Africa) and the Friends of Leadership, Development & Governance. Attendees from the US, Kenya, Congo, Somalia, and even Thailand joined together to support human rights education, including the Colorado/Kenya Human Rights Project which seeks to bring human rights education to young people on International Human Rights Day and beyond.
Thanks go out to all of our supporters. If you want to help educate youth on their basic human rights so that they can become advocates for tolerance and peace, please DONATE today! Your contribution will support our outreach events on December 10th and school seminars before and after this event.
Int'l Human Rights Day 2010, Bomet, Kenya
Stanley Kiprono Cheruiyot from Bomet, Kenya wrote to tell me about his newest project for human rights day, called “Human Rights Perspectives in Performing Arts.” The program is expected to start in Bomet schools and will involve drama teams that put together performances involving human rights. They are scheduled to start on 24th November and end on 11th Dec. His focus is to increase awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Stanley did an awesome job with his Rift Valley team last year. Can’t wait to hear more about this newest undertaking.
By the way, Stanley says he was inspired by this speech that he presented on my behalf last year. Maybe others will like it too:
A message from Dr. Michelle Pinkowski, Executive Director, Africa Foundation for Human Rights & Tolerance (East Africa)
Dear Artists and Educators,
It has been said that, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.”
We at the Africa Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance (East Africa) agree with this statement and commend you, as artists and educators, for the impact that you have had and the impact that you can have on shaping the future of the South Rift Valley and of the country as a whole.
As artists and educators, you are in a unique position to create a vision that others can see, an inspiration to motivate others to action, and a dream that society can realize.
Human rights can be a reality in Kenya. And we at the Africa Foundation are very pleased that the youth that will participate in your drama program will have the opportunity to explore human rights as a topic. By doing so, they will help human rights come alive in the South Rift Valley and will serve as shining examples for their brothers and sisters across the country.
The subject of human rights is not just an academic topic – something to read about and discuss. Human rights are things that need to live and breathe in our everyday lives. Artists help us see how this is possible. They help us see how human rights apply to each of us. They help us see how human rights are relevant. They help us understand what our responsibilities are to uphold and protect these rights.
Because of the importance of human rights to the South Rift Valley, and because of the importance of artists in bringing these rights to life, we would like to make a proposal for how The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the materials of Youth for Human Rights, can play a part in your drama contest.
First, let’s take a look at the word right. While some dictionaries define the word as “a privilege” , when used in the context of human rights, we are talking about something more basic.
Every person is entitled to certain fundamental rights, simply by the fact that he or she is a human being. These are called human rights. They are not simply a privilege which can be taken away at someone’s whim.
They are rights because they are things we are legally and morally entitled to as part of our existence. These rights need to be learned so we can protect ourselves and our families. They also help us get along with each other and live in peace.
The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes the rights that each person is entitled to. There are 30 of them. This is a vitally important document, yet few people even know that it exists.
The Declaration of Human Rights lists rights that describe the equality of rights worldwide, civil and political rights, economic and social rights, and – importantly – the duties and responsibilities to uphold the rights for others. The last is extremely important, for unless we ensure the rights of our fellows, we will be unable to maintain the rights for ourselves.
We suggest that you educate your students about the importance of the rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and about their ability to make a difference by teaching these rights to others through their dramatic interpretations.
Then educate them on what each of the rights are, and allow them to come up with their own interpretation of one right, and what that right means to them and how it applies in their community and for their future.
A copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is attached. More information about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights can be found at http://www.youthforhumanrights.org.
We will work to forward additional material for your use in the near future. In the meantime, we hope that you will enjoy the award-winning music video “United”.
Best wishes,
Michelle Pinkowski, Esq.
Africa Foundation for Human Rights & Tolerance (East Africa)
Plans are underway for our big event on International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Last year, three events in Kenya and one in Somalia brought East Africa to the world spotlight for promoting human rights education. Let’s make this year even better.
Details so far: 10:00 am, University of Nairobi (Graduation Square/Chancellor’s Court). Stay tuned for more information about guest speakers and entertainment.
As many of you know, we are getting ready for another great event on December 10th, International Human Rights Day. As it turns out, Nairobi, Kenya and Denver, Colorado are Sister Cities. Now that Africa Foundation founder, Michelle Pinkowski, is back in her home city of Denver, we decided this would be a great opportunity to further ties between the two cities. So we’ve decided to hold events in both places. We’ll post information here as we firm up the details. We hope you can join in! And any donations are much appreciated so that we can make both events a huge success and really get the message out.
