"60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary" Initiative
for the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The '
60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary' Initiative was launched by
Max Dana to support the
Every Human Has Rights campaign to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2008.
An artist and a philanthropist, founder of the MagkaSama Project, Max Dana has a longstanding interest in international affairs and is a staunch supporter of Human Rights. She is known to be media shy and to keep a low profile, preferring her creative arts activities to speak for themselves. Nevertheless, to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Max offered her support to the
Every Human Has Rights Campaign organized by
The Elders. The group is composed of distinguished leaders including
Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson and
Desmond Tutu. British musician
Peter Gabriel and entrepreneur
Sir Richard Branson first conceived of the idea for the Elders in 1999.
Max Dana created an original artwork on this special occasion and for several months, she met with sixty people from the most important organizations in the world (
Amnesty International,
UNICEF,
UNHCR,
Human Rights Watch,
FIDH,
Reporters without Borders,
OMCT,
UNESCO...), with Ambassador of France
Stéphane Hessel, Participant in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and French Ambassador for Human Rights
François Zimeray. She also met with volunteers and individuals supporting organizations, as well as committed people (aid workers, doctors, human rights lawyers...), and the 30 winners of the
Internews Every Human Has Rights Media Awards. They all enthusiastically supported Max's initiative and signed the original artwork she created to honor the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Initiative was a huge success, and the interest it generated as well as the active support from organizations and individuals, contributed to promote human rights awareness to a wider audience on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Geneviève Garrigos, President of Amnesty International France and partner of the Every Human Has Rights campaign declared:
By marking human rights on every inch of the globe she drew, even on the most remote places in the world, Max Dana enforces the universality of the Declaration of Human Rights on its 60th anniversary.
Katy Cronin, Communications Director, The Elders added:
I am very grateful to Max Dana for her creative and inspiring support for The Elders and the Every Human Has Rights campaign. This artwork is a wonderful reminder that any committed individual can take action to change the world for the better. Thank you Max! And don’t stop now!
Jean-François Julliard, Secretary general, Reporters without Borders - RWB/RSF said:
It is a great initiative and an orignal and creative way to raise awareness on human rights. The universality of Human Rights shouldn't restrain to signers on a map, all the people who signed this art piece should now act and defend Human Rights the best they can.
The artwork was handed over to Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General and CEO of CIVICUS in the presence of Katy Cronin, Communications Director, The Elders in April, 2009 in London. A month later, the original artwork arrived at CIVICUS headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ingrid Srinath (left), former Secretary General and CEO of CIVICUS with staff members holding Max Dana's collective artwork at the organization's headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. May, 2009
Signers of the Initiative
Organizations and Officials who signed Max Dana's Artwork
Mary Robinson
Member of The Elders
Geneviève Garrigos
President of Amnesty International France
Jean-Marie Fardeau
Paris Office Director, HRW
Stéphane Hessel
Ambassador of France,
Participant in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
François Zimeray
Ambassador for Human Rights
Jacques Hintzy
President of the French National
Committee for UNICEF
Souhayr Belhassen
President of the International Federation for Human Rights - FIDH
Francisco Galindo Velez
UNHCR Representative for France
Jean-François Julliard
Secretary general, Reporters without Borders - RWB/RSF
Pierre Sané
Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
Yves Berthelot
President of the World Organization Against Torture, Chairman of the CFSI
Jacky Mamou
President of Collectif Urgence Darfour
Pierre Lévy
Founder and President of Planète Urgence
Every Human Has Rights
The Campaign launched by The Elders
Internews
The 30 winners of the global 'Every Human Has Rights' Media Awards
CIVICUS
World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Thank you to these prestigious organizations and to all the other great, committed people for supporting this initiative and for promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights!
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