The Promo Write Up (1)

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2007 - “AS I BELIEVE: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THROUGH ART, MUSIC, CULTURE AND CONSCIENCE”

Contributed by Noreen Ahmad Ariff

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on 10 December and it is almost the time of the year again when the Malaysian Bar celebrates the Day. This year, the Bar’s Human Rights Day will be held on Sunday, 9 December 2007.

Human rights is something that cannot be confined within four walls; it can soar as high as the sky and as wide as the ocean. The right to believe and express oneself finds its voice through various means - music, art, culture and conscience. Our Human Rights Day this time is therefore themed: “As I Believe: Freedom of Expression through Art, Music, Culture and Conscience”.

If the United Nations celebrates the Day in New York, ours will be held in two parts in Kuala Lumpur. At 7.30 am, we will commence with a peaceful walk, the “Peoples’ Freedom Walk” from Sogo Complex through Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman-Jalan Raja to the old dame of Arts, the Central Market through Jalan Leboh Pasar Besar.

At Central Market, the second part of the Day will be held from 9.00 am onwards. There will be a host of events including poetry reading, Orang Asli cultural dance and performances by the underrated but talented Dr Wan Zawawi, and our own ‘home-grown’ lawyers, Fahri Azzat, Syamsuriatina Ishak, Dipendra Harshad Rai and Lai Chee Hoe. There will be other guest appearances being lined up.

The highlight of the Day will be the “When Faith Meets Law” multi-religious panel session discussing conscience rights. At this session, we seek to give religious groups the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns on faith, law and human rights. Prominent figures from the various religious groups in Malaysia have been invited as speakers.

There will also be a session titled “I wish that…”. Here, the various NGOs and groups will present their particular demands on issues affecting them. It will be a fun day out.

As C.S Lewis once said, “We are what we believe we are”. Share with us what you believe. See you on Sunday, 9 December 2007!