Equality and Human Rights Commission

Welsh authors mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has teamed up with some of Wales’ brightest literary talents to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Commission asked authors such as Rachel Trezise, John Sam Jones and Nia Williams to write short stories that show how important human rights are to people’s everyday lives in Wales. We will be publishing the stories on our website on the anniversary, December 10.  The stories will also be appearing in a number of Welsh publications and are available to organisations and schools. 
The Commission will use the day to spread the message that human rights are for everyone in society. We want to mark the 60th anniversary of the Declaration by encouraging the public to understand and celebrate human rights and the values that underpin them, namely fairness, dignity and respect.

Kate Bennett, National Director for Wales, Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “We are thrilled to be working with some of Wales’ best writers as part of our celebrations to mark the anniversary.  We hope these stories get people thinking about human rights and their importance to our everyday lives.

“December 10 1948 is a crucial date in the history of human rights. In the wake of the horrors of the Second World War, the Declaration sought to prevent future atrocities and oppression by setting out values that underline human dignity and equal worth. The need for human rights for all is still very much with us today.”

Neil Wooding, Commissioner for Wales, Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

“Developing our understanding of human rights and the important part they play in our lives through story-telling taps into an age-old Celtic tradition. The stories cover a wide range of issues including language, race, age, and sexual orientation demonstrating the meaning of human rights in a personal way.

They describe the devastating impact when human rights are not upheld or are violated. We hope the stories will help to forge a debate across Wales about how important it is to uphold human rights to secure our social economic and personal wellbeing.”   

Rachel Trezise, whose story is entitled The Male Lesbian, said:

“Human rights are the cornerstone of a fair society. Everybody should have the right to live with dignity and respect, and everyone should be treated equally, regardless of race, religion, wealth, nationality and sexual orientation. Human rights effect every human being on earth, and in order to ensure our lives are not blighted by injustice, every human being on earth should be aware of their own and of other’s human rights.”

Nia Williams’ story looks at the daily encounters between people living in a tower block. She said: “Every ordinary life tells an extraordinary story. This is why my writing has always been inspired and driven by the people I see every day, on the bus, in the shops, selling Big Issues on the street, arguing with their families in the car park, hurrying home with downcast eyes, trying to keep out of the way. I'm honoured to take part in this project, because bodies such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission try and open the cage doors, to allow every extraordinary story to be told.”

The Commission will publish stories by the following authors on December 10:  Rachel Trezise, John Sam Jones, Eifion Jenkins, Nia Williams. Catrin Dafydd,  A.D Miles, Lewis Davies, and Huw Lawrence.
Notes

For more information please call Jamie Westcombe on (029) 2044 7783 or by return email, or  Sue Dye 0797 632 5863.

If you would like to publish any of the stories (they are about 1,500 words each) please get in touch.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was one of the first major achievements of the United Nations when it was adopted on 10 December 1948. After 60 years, it remains a powerful instrument in the campaign for human rights for all.

The UDHR is a living document that matters not only in times of conflict and in societies suffering repression, but also in addressing social injustice and achieving human dignity in times of peace in established democracies. Non-discrimination, equality and fairness – key components of justice - form the basis of the Declaration. It consists of an introduction and 30 articles that set out a range of fundamental human rights and freedoms to which all men and women, everywhere in the world, are entitled.

Find out more details on what the Commission is doing to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Follow this link for more details on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.