Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10 December, 2016: The Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR), organized a quiz competition amongst students in some selected government schools in the AU headquarter, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to commemorate the International Human Rights Day which is observed every year on the 10th of December. The event was held to celebrate the coming into force of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10th December, 1948 in order to promote and protect people’s fundamental human rights universally. One of the main focus of the human rights education (quiz competition) was Aspiration 3 of Africa’s development roadmap, Agenda 2063 which talks of an Africa founded on good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, Justice and the rule of Law

The commemoration of the International Human Rights Day held under the theme, “Stand up for Someone’s Rights today” was marked by a quiz competition among students from selected government schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the objectives to test students’ awareness on human rights issues particularly on the rights of women and the rights of a child. Similarly the objective was to highlight the specific issues of the human rights, to aggregate young people’s voices to be main actors in the promotion of human and people’s rights and lastly to honor the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 423 as a common standard in celebrating 10 December as International Human Rights Day. The questionnaires consisted of 35 questions that made a distinction between UN and AU human rights mechanisms and instruments. Some of the African Union Human Rights instruments and mechanisms that were highlighted include but are not limited to: the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Winners of the quiz competition were awarded merit certificates and prices such as Project 2016 bag which contained Project 2016 caps and t-shirts. The celebration which was attended by staff of the Department of Political Affairs of the Commission, UN OHCHR and 80 students from the selected schools ended with the handing of certificates of participation but also networking and exchange of ideas.

The aim of the quiz competition was to;

1. Bring about better understanding of human rights among children
2. Give children a better understanding of the African Charter on Human and People’s rights and African charter on the rights and welfare of the child.
3. Promote the integration of Human rights culture amongst children and schools.
4. Enable children have a better insight of Agenda 2063.

SM/MH

For More Details Please Contact:
Amb. Salah Siddig Hammad| Department of Political Affairs | African Union Commission Email: HammadS@africa-union.org

For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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