Int’l human rights day observed
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—The Interagency Gender and Development Group (INGAD), UN Information Centre (UNIC), Oxfam GB, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation jointly observed Human Rights Day 2006 at the National Library Auditorium in Islamabad Friday.
The theme of this year is “Fighting Poverty - A Matter of Obligation, not Charity”.
The ceremony started with remarks by the Country Representative of Oxfam GB Pakistan, Farhana Faruqi Stocker. It was followed by short remarks by the INGAD Administrator, Najam Saighal. Prior to the prize-distribution ceremony, a group of students presented a short skit based on a poem by legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz entitled “Fighting Poverty”.
Students from the schools and colleges of Islamabad, administered by the Federal Directorate of Education, participated in the essay contest under this year’s theme. A large number of entries were received from 16 schools and colleges, which represented high quality of works by students.
The Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, gave prizes to the winners of the essay contest. The first prize was presented to Rahila Mumtaz of the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-6/2. Sadaf Jamil of the Federal Government Margalla College for Women in F-7/4 and Ahmed Mursaleen of the Islamabad Model College for Boys in G-10/4 received the second and third prizes respectively. Five other students received certificates of merit. The prize-presentation ceremony was followed by a performance of renowned artist Sheema Kermani. Her mesmerising performance highlighted the need to stand up to and stop violence against women. The performance was based on poet Famihda Riaz’s poem “Aao ae Humwatano Raqs Karo, Raqs Karo”. It also marked the end of the 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women programme launched by Oxfam GB and its local partners across Pakistan.
The Interagency Gender and Development Group is composed of thirty bilateral and multilateral donor agencies working on gender issues in Pakistan. The INGAD supports the efforts of the Government of Pakistan to mainstream gender in policies and programmes at both federal and local levels.
It also networks with NGOs, civil society, research organisations and gender advocacy groups to share best practices in addressing gender disparity. The INGAD is currently funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
According to Information gathered from various websites, its formal inception dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and interested organizations to adopt 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
Article 23 of the Declaration recognizes the right to join a union and bargain collectively as a basic human right.
The Declaration was one of the UN’s first major achievements and remains a powerful instrument and symbol worldwide. Every year on 10 December, Human Rights Day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration. On Human Rights Day it is celebrated around the globe that “All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms”.
This year Human Rights Day focuses on fighting poverty as it is a cause and a product of human rights violations. It is this double edge that makes poverty probably the gravest human rights challenge in the world.