Creative Ways To Speak Out On International Human Rights Day

By Author: NC
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(NC)—December 10th is International Human Rights Day, a time when people all over the world take action in their own communities for human rights.

Letter-writing to governments and opposition groups is one excellent way to raise your voice, however there are also many other creative ways to promote and protect human rights on Human Rights Day. Here are just a few suggestions you may want to share with your friends, family, classmates, colleagues or others in your community to make a difference for human rights:

1. Declare your community a "human rights zone". Invite a prominent person like your mayor to make the official declaration. Encourage people attending the event to make public announcements about what they will do to protect human rights locally or around the world.

2. Start a Human Rights quilt. Ask individuals or groups in your community to design squares which are most relevant to them. For example, ask a faith community to depict the right to freedom of religion.

3. Take part in a 30 Hour Candle Vigil. During the vigil, keep participants awake and entertained ...
... with music, performances and mural painting along human rights themes. This could also be combined with a write-a-thon.

4. Break the silence! Create a minute of noise. Refuse to be silent about human rights injustices in the world. Encourage others in your community to participate in a planned "minute of noise" to break the silence about human rights abuses in Canada and around the world.

5. Create a petition based on a specific case of abuse or a human rights issue. Drop it off at local businesses and have as many people sign it as possible.

6. Place a missing/disappeared persons report in the Lost and Found section of the classifieds in your local newspaper to advertise the disappearance of a prisoner of conscience.

7. Get in the News! Write a letter-to-the-editor on an issue that particularly interests you, or even write a feature article for your local paper.

8. Talk back to the radio. Many radio stations offer call-in programs to listeners. Call in and voice your support for human rights. Or call a dedication program and send a song out to those defending human rights in their own countries.

9. Organize a candle lighting event in a prominent place in your community. Invite people to make public statements about their personal commitments to human rights.

10. If you haven't already, join Amnesty International! You'll become part of a worldwide movement to promote and protect the human rights of everyone, everywhere.

For more ideas for International Human Rights Day, or to join Amnesty International, please visit www.amnesty.ca or contact Amnesty International at 1-800-AMNESTY (266-3789) or members@amnesty.ca. Or you can write to Amnesty International, 312 Laurier Ave East, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 1H9.

- News Canada
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News Canada