Human rights rock with OSCE support: festivities to mark Human Rights Day in Armenia

YEREVAN, 10 December 2010 - 'Speak up, stop discrimination' is the slogan of a rock concert and a human rights fair organized today with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan to mark Human Rights Day in Armenia. 

The event, co-organized by the UN Department of Public Information (UN DPI), Armenia's Human Rights Defender's Office and a non-governmental organization Antenna aimed at raising awareness among young people in Armenia about human rights.

"I'm encouraged by the active involvement of young people in today's events to mark the International Human Rights day," said Carel Hofstra, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "It's very important that young people, who are to build the future of this country, are aware of their rights and realize that all of us must contribute to the promotion of those."

The fair brought together human rights activists and defenders, non-governmental organizations from Yerevan and regions of Armenia who presented their activities and distributed information on human rights to general public.

Four rock bands, "Degh", "An Gordonach!", "Vordan Karmir" and "The Beautified Project" performed at the event.

UN DPI representative Maria Dotsenko said: "This day is a good occasion to remind to ourselves and to people around us how important it is to be aware of human rights protection mechanisms, to use and promote them. Today's events that we support, as well as UN publications on human rights that we translate into Armenian, is our contribution to promoting human rights - not only today but during the whole year and in every aspect of our life."

Youth, media, civil society organizations and international community participated at the event.