Sixty years ago on the 10th of December in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations. However, the world leaders have failed to fulfill their own commitment to protect all rights of their citizens enshrined in the UDHR. Amnesty International by organizing “Fire-up” (candle lightening) event urged governments of the world to re-commit themselves to deliver concrete improvements in the human rights situation.
Every human has rights. That is the essence of our humanity. It places on each of us the duty to stand up, not just for our own rights but also for those of others – and to help turn the vision of the UDHR into a reality. That is the spirit of international solidarity. That is the true meaning of universal, indivisible human rights.
On this significant anniversary of the UDHR, people gathered together in hundreds of places all over the globe, to light a candle, fire or flame as part of a mass demonstration. On Human Rights Day, we stood up for human rights and showed our solidarity with people all over the world who are committed to making human rights a reality for everyone.
In this connection, Hundreds of students and human rights activists demanded for an effective protection of all human rights enshrined in the UDHR amid an event that organized by Amnesty International Nepal on the occasion of 60th Anniversary of the international human rights day on the 10th of December 2008. More than 300 Amnesty International members and supporters teamed up with the circle to create an image of a candle (AI’s logo) on the ground which was fully visible from the above which is called “Aerial Art”. The participants lit the candle wishing improvement in human rights situation which is called “Fire-up”.
Speaking at the program, Acting Chairperson of the AI Nepal Dhruba Kumar Karki said the peace was impossible without human rights.
Chief Guest of the program Deborah Smith, the International Executive Committee Member of Amnesty International and Nepal/Sri Lanka Researcher of Amnesty International’s International Secretariat Yolanda Foster recollected their long experience with AI, saying both of them had joined Amnesty International from their student life. They expressed satisfaction over the activism of the AI Nepal for the protection of human rights.
Present at the program managed by AI Nepal’s Group-80, Kathmandu were General Secretary of AI Nepal Chandra Adhikari, NEC Members Sharada Sharma, Keshab Sigdel and Bikram Dhukuchhu, representatives of AI Nepal Groups, teachers, students, human rights activists and commoners. The program was presided over by Surya Bahadur Adhikari, the convener of AI Nepal Group 80 Kathmandu