2008 marks a big occasion - the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is one of the most important documents recognizing and protecting human rights for everyone all over the world, and this was signed on December 10, 1948 by all member states of the United Nations.  However, a declaration alone is not enough to protect our human rights. Working with governments, schools, non-governmental organizations, community groups and you, we strive to construct a human rights culture, broadening the knowledge and concept of human rights, exercising our rights while defending those of others.

Amnesty International is dedicated to human rights education and this will not be possible without your support. In the upcoming school year of 2008/09, we will be organizing a series of human rights education activities to cultivate youth activism, expose students to various human rights issues and develop independent critical thinking among students.
 
1.  POSTER DESIGN CONTEST FOR THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (UDHR)

 The contest, with the theme “Born Free and Equal”, will be held between September and October 2008. We hope to inspire students to learn more about the UDHR and express themselves through their artistic views and expressions. Winning entries may be used for Amnesty International promotional purposes.

Panel of judges include visual artist and poet Ms. Seeman Ho, renowned designer and painter Prof. Tai-keung Kan, BBS, and renowned cartoonist Zunzi. Details of the contest can be found here. Deadline for submission of entries is on October 31, 2008.

Entering its 13th year, the annual Human Rights Press Awards which is jointly organized by Amnesty International Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Journalists Association and Foreign Correspondence Club, is the only awards in Hong Kong and in Asia that recognize outstanding journalists and news reports, among others, that contribute to significant human rights awareness to the society.

Students are given the opportunity to choose any one of the winning articles and submit a commentary on the chosen article which reflects their ideas and their understandings of human rights. This activity aims to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of international affairs and human rights news exposure, develop their objectivity, and encourage participation and raise social consciousness. The activity will be held between April and May 2009.  More details will be announced on our website after the Human Rights Press Awards are held towards the end of March 2009.

The activity aims at nurturing activism by deepening students’ appreciation of human rights. Through the participation in human rights activities, they are able to grasp skills and knowledge of campaigning and become the human rights ambassadors in the school.

Schools can nominate up to six students to form a Human Rights Committee (nominees may either be from the civic education Unit or students who are interested in human rights issues). Nominees and committee members will participate in workshops organized by Amnesty International Hong Kong regularly in order to enhance their awareness of human rights and the right issues they may face in daily life.

The ambassadors will be asked to prepare for a report on the issues they have worked on, and will also be encouraged to organize fundraising events to support activities they hold within their schools.
 
4.  SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

Ideas from the youth are important and we value their participation and input. Hence we hold regular meetings with them and provide seminars and workshops on different topics. If you find one (or more) of the following topics of interest to your schools, please feel free to contact us to arrange an out-reach talk on any one of the following topics.

Amnesty International receives news and updates about those who are jailed or face arbitrary prosecution or imprisonment for speaking out or for simply defending their rights. To bring attention and give support to those who suffer from repression and persecution, we need to show solidarity and speak up/speak out for them. We have an Urgent Action network which is primarily made up of concerned individuals worldwide to generate massive petitions, responding swiftly to human rights abuses by various governments and other non-state groups as well, and work through letter or e-mail writing campaigns

We encourage students to take part in this network, where they can increase their critical thinking and learn to write letters addressing their views and expressing their feelings to government and other  responsible officials, with the goal of stimulating and encouraging individual and community awareness and participation. Students can write letters in English, Chinese or any other language.

If you are interested in any of our activities or simply want to find out more about Amnesty International’s work, please feel free to contact Billy Leung at 2300-1251. He will be happy to provide further information to facilitate any of your arrangement.