Human Rights Day 2010 Celebrated

Dili, 14 December –

Timor-Leste celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with numerous events throughout the country. On 10 December, International Human Rights Day, human rights defenders from all walks of life gathered at venues across the country to debate human rights progress and to promote the continued improvement of respect and protection of human rights for all. Advocates included officials and representatives from the Office of the President, from Parliament and Government, from the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice, from civil society and from the international community.

The third Sergio Vieira de Mello Human Rights Award was presented to six individuals and organizations by President José Ramos-Horta. The UN extends congratulations to the recipients: Ms. Simone Barbosa de Assis of Casa Vida, a shelter for victims of domestic and sexual violence, the NGOs HIAM Health, Hope Family Community, the Primary School and Kindergarten “Maria Auxiliadora”, Orphanage Santa Bakhita and Ms. Soraya Vieira Nepomuceno. The first annual Human Rights Prize of the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice was awarded by Provedor Sebastiao Dias Ximenes to the PNTL of Manufahi District for their record in respect of human rights.

Further highlights of the day were Parliament’s third annual special session devoted to human rights, which this year focused on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, and the Government-led, partnership-run, 16-day campaign to End Violence Against Women, which came to a close in Baucau. This year, under the slogan “Speak up – Stop Discrimination”, the UN saluted human rights defenders around the world, whom UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay commended for their “magnificent battle to stop discrimination”. Urging everyone to “be inspired by those seeking to make our world more just”, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said we should all “remember that everyone can be a human rights champion”.

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President José Ramos-Horta presented the third Sergio Vieira de Mello Human Rights Award to the following six individuals and organizations in Parliament on 10 December, International Human Rights Day: Ms. Simone Barbosa de Assis of Casa Vida, a shelter for victims of domestic and sexual violence, the NGOs HIAM Health, Hope Family Community, the Primary School and Kindergarten “Maria Auxiliadora”, Orphanage Santa Bakhita and Ms. Soraya Vieira Nepomuceno. Photo credit: UNMIT/Martine Perret.

ENDS

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