Human Rights Day marked in Erbil

Erbil, 10 December 2017 - The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today marked International Human Rights Day in Erbil, with calls for standing up for human rights and upholding these rights and protecting them through actions and policies.

This year’s Human Rights Day calls on everyone to stand up for human rights and take a pledge. The event was organized in collaboration with Cihan University and attended by more than 275 students of the Faculties of Law and International Relations and their professors.

President of Cihan University, Dr. Faud Mawlood, in his inauguration speech, addressed the importance of cooperation between the Cihan University and UNAMI HRO, and the role of the higher education institutions in promoting human rights especially. In particular, joint activities with the UNAMI HRO are highly valued, as is the continued technical support provided by HRO to the University.

Following a UN human-rights video message, HRO made a presentation on the importance of the Universal Declaration on Human Rigths, and the role of students in advocating for the rights of others and cultivating the culture of human rights in the society. Finally, a law student made a short presentation about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Human Rights Day, observed every year on 10 December, commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.