Successful Efforts by CC’s Human Rights Committee Continue: Postal Authority Issues Stamps Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Universal Declaration on Human Rights [Archives:1998/44/Last Page]
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November 2 1998
On December 10th, 1948, the world issued the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. In a few weeks, the world will celebrate the 50th anniversary. This will be a chance to take stock of what has been achieved, and what lies ahead.
The Human Rights Committee of the Consultative Council has been working hard to make Yemen join the world in this endeavor. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit. One of these efforts was to make the Postal Authority issue stamps to commemorate the occasion. Last week, the Chairman of the CC’s Human Rights Committee, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf, received samples of three stamps, which will be released on December 10th, 1998. “These are four-color 30 by 40 centimeter stamps to be printed in France. They are priced at YR 15, 35, and 100 each,” he explained. The design and artwork is quite impressive. In all three versions, hands have been used to indicate different aspects of human rights. In the first stamp, the picture shows hands in several colors (ethnic backgrounds) rising high as if coming out of a prison cell. This image stands for the appeal of vulnerable groups whose rights are not respected. In the second stamp, again hands of various colors join together to show unity and solidarity. The call here is for all nations and peoples, even individuals, to join hands in show of commitment for human rights. In the third stamp, various color hands reach out from all corners towards the 50th anniversary to celebrate this important occasion. The Human Rights Committee at the Consultative Council is now preparing the texts of several international conventions to be printed in Arabic. Some 10,000 copies of the actual texts of the following conventions will be distributed on the occasion. 1) The Universal Declaration on Human Rights of 1948; 2) The August 12, 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 2 subsequent protocols; 3) The 1951 Convention on the Rights of Refugees, and Displaced and Stateless Persons; 4) The International Agreement Against Torture issued by the UN General Assembly on 10th December, 1984; 5) The Rights of the Child Convention issued by the UN General Assembly on 20th November 1989; 6) Parts of texts of Yemen’s Constitution and various laws that are related to human rights. The Committee will also release 10,000 cassette tapes which contain the exact text of the Universal Declaration as well as its explanation in layman language. “This is important because many of our people are illiterate. Even those who read and write may not fully comprehend the legal jargon,” explains Saqqaf. The most daring of the CC’s Human Rights Committee program has to do with a seminar on Thursday, December 10th, 1998. “During this seminar, the high point is when 100 law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers, public attorneys and other officials take a vow to honor the Universal Declaration and to work towards its full implementation. “We don’t have a firm commitment yet. We do hope that several prison wardens, arresting, investigation and interrogation officers, and others will agree to take the oath,” the human rights activist said. “The total budget for this 3-months effort is a meager US$ 30,000, given the voluntary nature of most of the effort. I would like to use this opportunity to thank those donors who have either committed to help, and who are in the process of doing so. These include the Danish, Canadian and Norwegian governments, as well as international NGOs such as Radda Barnen,” concluded Dr. Saqqaf.
