Human Rights Network-Uganda (HURINET-U), the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda are organizing a number of activities to commemorate the international Human Rights Week and to raise awareness about the theme for this year as we commemorate the coming into force of one of the most important documents of our time and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that was adopted far back in December 1948 by the various nations of the world.
Activities to mark the week include:
- Capacity building workshop for Human Rights Defenders at the people’s space –Hotel Africana organized by East and Horn of Africa HR Defenders project to run from Monday 5th to 9th December 2011
- Today’s press conference to launch the week and to brief the media on activities to mark the International Human Rights Week
- Public Dialogue for the youth at Makerere University Senate building conference hall on Wednesday 7th December 2011
- A Human Rights Quiz for selected secondary schools students in Kampala to be held at Ndere center on Thursday 8th December 2011 and later screened on UBC, NTV and Bukedde television stations
- Human Rights Forum for HURINET members to be held on Friday 9th December 2011 at HURINET secretariat
- Human Rights grand finale at Hotel Africana on Saturday 10th December starting at 2:00pm at which Human Rights film on Human Rights Defenders will be screened, launch of the UHRC Human Rights Defenders’ desk and award of prizes to best Human Rights Reporters and winners of the Human Rights Quiz will be done
The focus of this year’s Human Rights day is about Human Rights defenders and the use of social media to promote Human Rights. In Uganda we are commemorating this year’s International Human Rights Day under the theme: ‘Let us Use the social media to promote Human Rights.’
Rarely has the interface between the role of Human Rights defenders and the fundamental human rights been as clearly demonstrated, in so many formats, and in such a wide spectrum of social media users, as it has been particularly with the advancement in mobile technology and the internet. Human Rights Defenders, especially in the media –old and new, local and international- have played a very important role in the promotion and protection of Human rights
Human Rights Defenders world –wide have in some instances paid a heavy price for their continued and brave efforts to promote and protect human rights through information dissemination using blogs, mobile phones and other emerging technologies.
In Uganda, Human Rights Defenders such as Activities, Journalists, the youth and other human rights enthusiasts have been able to use the social media without much hindrance. Many Human Rights Defenders are now active users of social media such as face book and twitter, and transmit graphic video evidence and Short Messages (SMS), as well as to allow direct interviewing from the scene. These platforms have been employed by the media to disseminate information on human rights violation and abuses
Although the roles of human rights defenders and the press are different, both are crucial and can be mutually reinforcing in the way they promote accountability, transparency and democratic governance. Freedom of expression means an open space not only for the media, but also for the rest of society. The free flow of information empowers people to claim their rights in the public arena
The significance of the impact of new technology and the internet applications cannot be underestimated. By allowing individuals to share information and ideas of all kinds instantaneously and inexpensively across national boundaries, the internet and other forms of new media have rapidly developed into extraordinarily powerful communication tools to inform us of the facts and expose human rights violation
It is worth recalling that the right to freedom of expression, as laid down in article 19 of the universal declaration of Human Rights and article 19 of the international Covenant on Civil and political rights, was drafted in such a way as to accommodate new technological developments through which individual exercise this right, including the internet and social media. Article 19 states that “Everyone shall have a right to seek, receive and impact information and ideas of all kinds regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of choice “
The 1995 constitution of Uganda under article 29 protects freedom of conscience, expression, movement, religion, assembly and association. The freedom of expression should be firmly upheld by all actors for its enjoyment by the key players and the general citizenry. The government on the other hand has the responsibility to protect and show its commitment to respect freedom of expression
We strongly believe that internet should remain as open as possible, and stress that any restriction that may be imposed, based on an exceptional basis- for example to prohibit the dissemination of child pornography or material that amounts to incitement to commit serious crimes or to racial hatred- must be done in strict compliance with the requirements set out under our constitution and the international human rights Law. This means that any conditions for restricting the flow of information must be provided by law, which is unambiguous and understandable to everyone the restriction must be justified as being necessary for one of the purposes established under international human rights law, mainly to protect the rights of others; and measure taken must be proportionate to the aim it seeks to achieve.
We call upon the state and all practitioners to embrace that benefits brought by the social media forums which have empowered citizens to access information, express themselves, participate in public debates more than ever. The arrival of the digital revolution in Uganda especially the evolution of the internet, emergence of new forms of media, and the rise of online social networks has reshaped issues of freedom of expression, participation and governance in Uganda. We must all work to ensure that the broadest possible plurality of voices is heard in defense of human rights defenders
We as human rights defenders shall remain steadfast in offering guidance to government so that media laws or regulatory regimes are not enacted with undue limits on freedom of expression
As we commemorate this year’s international Human Rights day, we would like to pay attribute to all human rights defenders in Uganda and the world over for their courage and determination to exercise their right to freedom of expression, ultimately promoting and defending human rights for many. In so doing they enable man kind to defend and enjoy our fundamental and human rights
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT; P.O.Box 21265 Plot 94 Old Kiira Road Ntinda, Tel+ 256 414 286 923/285 362, Fax 256 14 286 881, Email: data@hurinet.or.ug , hurinet@gmail.com Website: www.hurinet.or.ug
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