Human Rights Promotion Award Conferred on UNESCO

Human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values. We all share a day in common - World Human Rights Day on 10 December, when we celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted in 1948.

This year, the spotlight is on the rights of all people — women, youth, minorities, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, migrants, the poor and marginalized — to make their voices heard in public life and be included in political decision-making.

In India, the Indian Institute of Human Rights (IIHR), is organizing a national event in New Delhi and will confer the Human Rights Promotional Award on the UNESCO Director and Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka in recognition of UNESCO’s efforts in promoting universal human rights and human rights education. Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi will receive the award in the presence of human rights activists, students and principles of schools in Delhi, UN agencies and diplomatic missions.

In selecting UNESCO from among 5000 international and national candidates, the steering committee of IIHR recognized the outstanding role played by UNESCO towards building a universal culture of human rights at national, regional and international levels.

"At a time of uncertainty and change, we are duty-bound to observe the principles of human dignity and fundamental freedoms – there can be no justification for breaching them. Human Rights Day gives us an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to these values and our resolve to put them into practice across the world for all to enjoy."

- Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Irina Bokova on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2012


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