UN-organised event in Baku highlights leadership role of youth in promoting human rights
10 December 2019
- To celebrate Human Rights Day, the United Nations (UN) Office in Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) organised an exhibition at the Youth House in Sabunchu district of Baku. It also marked the conclusion of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the international campaign that calls to end violence against women and girls around the world.
The event, dedicated to the theme of this year’s celebration – “Youth Standing Up for Human Rights”, brought together some 150 participants from the government, civil society, diplomatic community, youth organisations and the media.
“Under our universal call to action “Stand Up for Human rights,” we aim to celebrate the potential of youth as constructive agents of change, amplify their voices, and engage a broad range of global audiences in the promotion and protection of rights,” Ghulam M. Isaczai, the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, said in his opening speech.
Mr. Isaczai also underlined a crucial role of youth participation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to bring fresh ideas and solutions for a better world.
The opening session also included speeches from Sabina Aliyeva, Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan, Sadagat Gahramanova, deputy chair of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs, as well as video messages by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General and Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The opening session was followed by an exhibition of cartoons and illustrations dedicated to the Universal Human Rights Declaration. The exhibition also featured a series of posters and videos with important messages voiced by youth on their role in standing up for better realization of human rights. Further, visitors got an opportunity to look at and collect various publications and educational materials printed by UN agencies.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): a milestone document proclaiming the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.
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