On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and in collaboration with the Institute for Human Rights (IHR) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta co-organized a panel discussion followed by the inauguration of the art exhibition Dialogues on Humanity and a reception on November 9, 2023.
The panel discussion, moderated by Swiss Professor and Director of the IHR Dr. Tina Kempin Reuter, took place at the UAB in Birmingham, a city considered the cradle of the civil rights movement. Christoph Sommer, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in the United States, participated on the Swiss side. Karin Ryan, Senior Policy Advisor at The Carter Center, and Molefi Askari, Head of the Ubuntu Institute for Community Development, joined the discussion as panelists.
Among other things, the speakers discussed the historical context in which the UDHR was born and its relevance today. They emphasized that the UDHR laid the groundwork for subsequent human rights treaties, that human rights are always a work in progress, and that universal respect for these rights can only be achieved through a collective effort. In the face of new challenges such as climate change, LGBTQIA+ rights or digital rights, it was also stressed that it is vital to create new norms while questioning existing ones in order to adapt to the current reality. Christoph Sommer also highlighted Switzerland’s human rights priority areas: Freedom of expression, abolition of death penalty, upholding the ban on torture, protection of minorities, and criminal justice reform (only in the U.S.).
Following the panel discussion, Dialogues on Humanity was officially inaugurated in the hallways of the IHR. Developed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Photo Elysée Museum, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), this exhibition of contemporary art features artworks by renowned Swiss and international artists combined with real-life impressions of humanitarian crisis situations captured by the ICRC. It shows reactions to the feeling of helplessness and overwhelm by images of crises, violence, armed conflicts, natural disasters, and digital threats related to humanitarian crises around the world.
The panels and the digital dialogue platform are designed to allow people to take a step back and pause, to ponder and feel, and to provide a space for a debate about humanity. Visitors were able to immerse themselves in the impressive images and discuss human rights issues as well as the humanitarian sector and its development.
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UDHR is essential for Switzerland, as it aligns with the country’s democratic values, its commitment to human rights, and its active participation in international efforts to promote peace, security, and humanitarian principles.
Many thanks to our partners at the UAB-IHR for the great collaborative effort and the warm welcome in Birmingham.
