My dear friends,
yesterday, I travelled to Berlin to present an international initiative to establish symbol for human rights. It is time to create a symbol for human rights that is understood all around the world.
A small share of the people on this planet enjoy the benefits of high tech, of the world wide web and of globalisation. Another, much larger share does neither have access to clean water nor to education or basic rights such as the international human rights. Oftentimes, they do not even know their rights. This of course includes the rights of women and girls that I have been fighting for for so long.
Our world is in turmoil. In many countries, people are taking their anger to the street. They refuse to be suppressed by a ruthless minority that only cares about money and power. This movement is still young, but it is getting bigger every day, and it will not be stopped. All people who fight for their basic rights as citizens and as human beings should have a common symbol to put on their posters and t-shirts, to paint on walls, factories, nuclear plants and tanks. A symbol to draw in the sand and paint on their forehands. A symbol for human rights.
Now it’s yout turn. Your creativity is needed. I want all of you, whether you are a child, a student, a worker or an entrepreneur, whether you are young or old, man or woman, no matter what colour you skin has; I wabt you to send in a proposal for a symbol for the international and universal human rights. Show your solidarity with those who do not have access to these basic rights!
A prominent jury to which I also belong, with artists and activists, politicians and designers, from Ai Wei Wei to Michael Gorbatchev, will make a pre-selection. Then it is up to you to decide through your vote online.
Please support this important initiative. Tell all your friends and family about it and visit www.humanrightslogo.net
LOVE,
Waris
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Waris Dirie, Michael Mittermaier and Erik Spiekermann in Berlin. Copyright: Auswärtiges Amt / Sebastian Meyner
UPDATE: Less than two weeks since the start, humanrightslogo.net has already received more than 1.300 logos! That’s a great success of the initiative, thank you all for your efforts and participation!” – waris Dirie
