Saturday, 11 December 2021
12 pm – 6 pm
Level LG (Sub Court), NU Sentral Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur
Organised by: Civil society organisations working on Freedom of Expression (FOE)
- Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
- Article 19 Malaysia
- Freedom Film Network (FFN)
- Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR)
- Sinar Project
- Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM)
- Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
- Kryss Network
- Sisters in Islam (SIS)
Introduction
Human Rights Day is commemorated globally on 10 December every year. The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the United Nations.
We would like to invite everyone to join us to celebrate the achievements of outstanding Malaysians in caring for and protecting the vulnerable, safeguarding human rights during the Covid-19 pandemic, and ensuring that ordinary people can claim their democratic spaces.
This is a platform to remind people that human rights are inherent and how freedom of expression and opinions relate to the broader spectrum of human rights and democracy. It is also important to use this IHRD event to showcase the tremendous work by activists and human rights defenders in protecting people’s rights and uncovering the FOE related challenges that they faced.
Programme itinerary
12 pm – 6 pm: Photo Exhibition – Pandemic & the suspension of Human Rights
12 pm – 2 pm: Solo Performances
2.30 pm – 3.30 pm: Launch of IHRD 2021 & the FOE Status Report 2021 – followed by a press conference and Q&A session for the media
3.30 pm – 6.00 pm: Group Performances
6 pm: Event ends
1. Photo Exhibition
The exhibition is a collaboration with local photo-journalism group, The Biddys that highlights human rights and the challenges in navigating the pandemic in the past year. Showcasing 30 selected photographs depicting the challenges faced by people during the pandemic and the suspension of their human rights. We aim to remind people that human rights are not an abstract concept that is only applicable to a selected few. Human rights are universal. Hence, the theme, “Humanising Human Rights | Merakyatkan Hak Asasi Manusia”, brings home the fundamental concept of human rights.
This exhibition will also feature five women human rights defenders who have championed different causes and become the voice for the voiceless during trying times.
2. Spoken Words and Musical Performances
Featuring artists from different music genres and creative backgrounds highlighting diversity and inclusivity as a key cornerstone to human rights in their performances.
- Dhabitah Zainal
- Pyanhabib
3. Launch of Freedom of Expression Status Report 2021.
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) will launch a Freedom of Expression (FOE) status report to outline all the FOE violations that took place in 2021 involving laws such as the Sedition Act 1964 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
