Visual Human Rights

Last Friday the ceremony of Visual Human Rights took place in the city hall of The Hague (Atrium Den Haag). Alderman Saskia Bruines started off by talking about the status quo of human rights in The Hague, Netherlands and how organisations are helping and doing their best to protect them. She was followed by photographer Hoessein Alkisaei who talked about the the whole process of bringing this project to life. Eventually, a panel discussion, that was led by the great Leila Prnjavorac, included the Alderman, the photographer, and human rights experts Sofia Stolk and Lisenne Delgado. During the discussion they touched upon topics like education, protection, and future methods to make sure that people are aware of the rights they are entitled to.

A great event with great people. Many thanks to those who were present! Hopefully until next time!

Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Protection
Every article in this declaration should be protected. Not just in theory, but also in practice. Big organisations like the U.N. contribute to this, but local organisations also play a role in protecting these articles. Many of these organisations train activists and send them forth to execute their tasks in the best manner possible. In this photo, the organisation talked about how they could organise a closed conference abroad in order to exchange best practices with other organisations.

Organisation: Justice and Peace Netherlands
Justice and Peace is a non-profit organisation based in The Hague. It is dedicated to defending and promoting human rights and social justice both in the Netherlands and globally. They support the action of local changemakers – the people and organisations on the ground that are committed to making real positive change whether they are activists, artists, bloggers, lawyers, policymakers or volunteers, students or company directors.

Photographer: Hoessein Alkisaei

Article 29
1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Backbone
It became evident to me that volunteers are the backbone of human rights. For example, child protection has removed a daughter from her mother’s home because of hygiene concerns. These volunteers visit those homes to paint, repair furniture and to clean up, making sure families can be reunited. In this case, you can see the volunteers renovating and painting the daughters bedroom so that she and her mother can be reunited. If you ever think about heroes, these people should pop up in your mind.

Organisation: Stichting Present Den Haag
Present is an organisation that believes it is self-evident to look after one another. Present links volunteer groups who can offer help to people who are in need, this may be due to a of a lack of finance, missing network connections or health concerns. Volunteer groups carry out a project within four hours. Every project enriches volunteers through the encounter with the unknown as well as the positive impact each project has on the person in need of help.

Photographer: Hoessein Alkisaei

Article 25
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Honour revenge
It is impossible to imagine that there are human beings who do not wish a decent existence for others. Yet it happens that the state will not take care of you once they have decided not to provide you with residence documents. The asylum request of a mother and her daughters is not granted, and because of that, they have to go to an emergency shelter. The reason that their asylum was not granted was that they could not prove that it would be dangerous to return to their country of origin. Because how do you prove honour revenge?

Organisation: Emergency Shelter De Halte
Since 2004 ‘De Halte’, of Stek Den Haag, offers temporary shelter in cases of acute emergency to various undocumented women and children. The two housing units in the centre of The Hague give shelter to a maximum of 16 people. The shelter is modest (bed, bath, bread and support) and temporary. De Halte is meant as a ‘safe haven’ for people for whom there are no other options left; as a place where they can catch their breath.

Photographer: Hoessein Alkisaei