Annual Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival launches with series of free virtual events

A wide variety of more than 30 free events takes place from December 7 - 11.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival 2020 is due to run from December 7 - 11, with a wide variety of more than 30 free online events and on-demand content focused on different aspects of human rights from home and abroad.

The festival, which coincides with International Human Rights Day on December 10, marks the day in 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created by the United Nations. This document is widely recognised as the starting point for the creation of the wider system of human rights laws and protections that we now have across the world.

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A festival representative explained: ''The festival allows for engagement across a range of issues, views and formats. It brings together activists, artists and members of the public in what we hope is a creative and positive dialogue about rights and how we can celebrate and protect them in Northern Ireland and beyond.

''Given that most of us continue to be in lockdown and isolated from family and friends, we have decided to take this year’s festival events entirely online.

''The internet will allow us to be connected virtually and the festival will help us explore how in the current circumstances we continue to be interconnected by rights as well.

''With webinars and discussions on responses and reactions to COVID, Brexit, the Bill of Rights, feminism, disability, the LGBT+ community, domestic violence, the planetary emergency and much more, we have plenty to keep you busy from Monday, December 7 until Friday, December 11.

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''This year's programme also includes: an amazing collection of activities and entertainment, including a photography exhibition from the artist in residence Bernie McAllister; family-friendly, fun activities for kids; a virtual Pub Quiz on Thursday evening, with live comedy and music; and a wide range of free films and exclusive documentaries exploring human rights across the world.

''This year has been an unbelievably challenging year for everyone and the Covid-19 global pandemic has created a massive public health emergency, extensive loss of life and has also exposed and deepened many inequalities in our society. Covid-19 continues to threaten and undermine rights in Northern Ireland but it also re-emphasises the importance of properly respecting and protecting those same standards. We have seen that from the right to life, healthcare, private and family life, education, work and many other areas of our day to day lives that human rights are the basic cornerstones of our society.

''From the people who have put themselves on the front-line to keep our day-to-day lives functioning, right through to the vulnerable individuals and groups who have been most affected by Covid, we now have an opportunity to build back better and it's clear that human rights need to be a fundamental part of that solution. Rights continue to connect us and to protect us in these uncertain times. Now more than ever we need to celebrate and continue to protect those fundamental values and safeguards.

''Let’s hope that moving forward we can continue to discuss, debate and explore the value of human rights as we continue to emerge from tough times and dedicate ourselves to fighting even harder for a better future based on human rights. ''

Visit www.nihrf.com for the full events schedule or find NIHRF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #NIHRF to sign up and learn more.