Kenya Administration police, UN staff and the public take a walk around Huruma slum during the Human Rights Day celebrations
(December 20, 2011, UNIC Nairobi ) - The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Nairobi, in collaboration with a Youth focused NGO known as SLUMCODE organized the commemoration of the Human Rights Day on 8th December 2011 in Huruma, Nairobi. The aim of the celebration was to highlight the importance of young people and the social media in the realization of human rights and also to look into ways in which UNIC can work and involve the youth in various UN activities. The activity was held at one of Nairobi's low income settlements. In order to attract a wider audience, the commemoration began with a street walk and by the time it reached the venue of the event, the crowd had increased with everyone eager to learn more on the use of the social media to champion human rights.
UNIC delivered the UN Secretary Generals’ message on Human Rights Day at the event which was attended by about 200 participants. Other participants included Google Africa, Global Peace Festival Foundation and the Kenya Administration Police. All these groups demonstrated their commitment through dancing, songs and speeches to promoting human rights through social media. In particular the police revealed that the Kenyan Police Service was undergoing reforms, one of which was the inclusion of the social media in their communication activities. The police was engaging pro-actively with the public to ensure that their role is clearly understood and supported by the community.
Internet giant Google’s representative spoke on the company’s stance on human rights and the continuity of the policy of providing open source applications that will in the end help in the achievement of human rights.
A representative of a human rights movement, Bunge la Mwananchi, acknowledged how the observance of Human Rights Day gives people an opportunity to reflect and take stock of the progress of the gains made so far.
The commemoration took the human rights discussion to a new platform in an informal settlement setting, giving a chance to the community to have a say on the subject.
