Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). And Prince George is commemorating the anniversary with two events today, a candlelight vigil and a writeathon in support of Amnesty International's long standing letter-writing campaign.
The abuse and violation of human rights is very different than it was 62 years ago when visionaries had the courage to adopt such a declaration in the aftermath of WWII.
Prevailing trends in human rights abuses include:
Targeting civilians by armed groups and government forces
Pervasive violence against women
Promoting torture as a mode of intelligence gathering
Attacks on journalists and activists
Lack of protection for refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants
Denial of economic and social rights
Lack of corporate accountability for human rights abuses
The We Can Candlelight Vigil will be held in Prince George today at 5:30 on the P.G. courthouse steps to decry violence against women.
We Can, short for We Can End All Violence against Women, is an international campaign that seeks to end such abuse, which is both a violation of human rights and an impediment to achieving gender equality.
The B.C. campaign involves more than 60 different organization and more than 1,000 individuals.
To recognize both the violence against women that happens around the world and the International Human Rights Day, candles will be lit for all the women who have suffered abuse. All are welcome to join.
And locals can join thousands of people across Canada and around the world in Amnesty International's writeathon.
And at 6:45 p.m. in ArtSpace above Books and Company at 1685 3rd Avenue, locals are invited to participate in the Prince George Writeathon led by local Amnesty International group member George Harding by writing a short, personal letter voicing support for another person's human rights, then sending the letter to a government leader or directly to a person whose rights are being threatened.
Thousands of imprisoned and abused people around the world have been saved and given hope by Amnesty letters. Speak up for human rights by attending the Prince George Writeathon in person or participating online at www.amnesty.ca/writeathon.
