Human Rights – just some nice words?
Re-thinking about humanity during the lent
It’s like with the Ten Commandments: everybody should know them, but if it comes to the ‘truth’ it becomes rather sad. What do we know about the Human Right Declaration? May be we remember the terms of ‘Freedom, Equality, Dignity’?
The 30 Principles are messages written long time ago for the whole world – but it seems especially nowadays that nobody cares if you don’t know them!
And indeed: they are not binding, without obligation. That’s why for example the International High Court already two years ago could judge Israel and the construction of the Wall of Separation without any consequences. It’s ridiculous: everybody speaks about and agrees to the Human Rights, but no one cares about them! A short yell in the moment of the worldwide shown pictures of the tortured men in the prison of Abu Ghreib in Irak – and life continues.
What’s about the Human Rights behind the Wall? How does violence, harassment and lawlessness against the Palestinian people reconcile with the Human Rights? Daily house demolitions, land confiscation, uprooting olive trees and waves of arrests – how do they ‘fit’ to the Human Right Declaration? What’s about the right of ‘freedom of choice where to live’ or ‘freedom of movement’? – What’s about the right of ‘life in safety’? Last year 2005, 197 Palestinian and 50 Israeli were killed on behalf of the Israeli – Palestinian Conflict and recently Bethlehem will remain in a meanwhile closed prison, also in the name of Human Rights?
How many people (especially children and women) are suffering from violence and/or poverty? How do we care about them?
If the Principles of the Human Right Declaration also should count for the Palestinian people there has to be a policy change to ensure the ‘real’ protection of Human Rights. In the current climate of heightened violence and distraction there has to be fostered a debate about the importance of Human Rights and Dignity for ensuring a society where freedom, justice and peace can grow!
Let’s take the time now and let’s re-think about our own values and about possible contributions to our community.
We call everybody to wake up, to re-think and to encourage neighbours, friends, colleges and politicians to ensure Human Rights!
As a way of highlighting the Human Rights articles, the International Center of Bethlehem hosted an intensive painting workshop that focused at making posters to illustrate articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Right.
The workshop was supervised by the artist Paula Cox and consisted of four sessions. During the first session, on Friday March 10th, Paula presented an audio visual performance of her paintings with music entitled “Painted World”, which includes her work for Amnesty International as a painter for Human rights. Besides, Paula also screened her prints that reflect the life of Palestinian women and which were exhibited at al-Kahf Gallery during October 2005. The presentations were followed by an interesting discussion and an introduction to the Universal Declaration of Human Right.
The other three sessions were more practical; eleven local artists and art students joined the workshop. They drew sketches, consulted Paula, developed the ideas and at the end, they produced very powerful and strong illustrations.
Since the illustrations are so creative, we celebrated them on Thursday April 6th and they are on exhibit until May 2nd, so that the public comes and enjoys them.
The workshop was made possible due to the generous support of
the A. M. Qattan Foundation
Written by: Anette Klasing & Faten Nastas