NGOs attend S’wak Festival of Rights

KUCHING: Members of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in the state took part in the first Sarawak Festival of Rights yesterday.

Themed ‘Human Rights for All’, the celebration was in conjunction with International Human Rights Day, which has been observed on Dec 10 every year since 1948, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“We are here to share our work and one of the subjects we like to talk, among others, is on discrimination in respect of gender, race and religion,” event spokesperson Suraya Bujang said in her welcoming remarks.

“The main aim is to bring about an open and dynamic modern society on the awareness of human rights since most of us, especially in Sarawak, take human rights for granted. We always think that is our right in the country, but we do not think of exercising the rights and we just follow the flow.”

She called on the public to contribute by finding out what is lacking in their communities and to help the underprivileged.

“You can contribute as little as RM1 or you can even buy a colour pencils especially for those children living in rural areas. Because of poverty, they cannot go to school but you can contribute as it can make so much difference for them. So join a civil society group out there,” she added.