Recently we received
some very exciting news straight from the United Nations in Geneva. One of our students has come first in the
world in a global competition.
Read more from the
United nations press release...
The UN Human Rights
Office has today announced the two winners of a poster contest for children to
illustrate what freedom means to them.
The competition is
part of a year-long campaign by the Office to mark the 50th anniversary of two
core human rights treaties, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.
 |
| Alexandria's winning entry. |
Alexandria Slaven,
11, from Samoa is the winner of the 5 to 11 age group with a picture depicting
people holding hands and standing by a luxuriant coconut tree. “My poster
illustrates how freedom comes with responsibilities and children and adults
should understand this,” Alexandria wrote to explain the design. “The growing
coconut tree with various rights and freedoms written on it symbolizes the
growth of a person.”
Winner of the 12-18
age group is 15-year-old Eiza Abid from Pakistan, whose illustration uses both
dark tones and bright colours to represent freedom of thought. “My painting
personifies the darkness and confinement within a person’s life and once the
person is set free from the pressures and judgement of others, one can freely
express their thoughts and imagination in their true colors, illustrating their
unique vision and bright outlook,” Eiza wrote.
Alexandria and Eiza’s
designs, which will be made into posters for use during the campaign, were
selected from the winners of local UN competitions organized in seven countries
- Armenia, Burundi, Fiji, Madagascar, Pakistan, Samoa and Tunisia. All the
winning entries can be viewed online at the campaign website: http://2covenants.ohchr.org/poster-gallery.html
“It is so important
to have children celebrating the 50th anniversary of the human rights Covenants
through this poster competition,” said Fabian Salvioli, Chair of the Human
Rights Committee which monitors how States parties are implementing the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “For the Covenants
to continue to have meaning over the next 50 years, children must be aware of
their rights and the importance of the Covenants to their lives and happiness,”
he said.
“I am impressed by
the dedication and resourcefulness of the winners and the quality of the
posters that they submitted for the competition celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the human rights Covenants,” said Waleed Sadi, Chair of the
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which monitors States
parties’ implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights. “The Covenants are more than legal treaties - they have
meaning and significance for all peoples and day-to-day life. By turning
rights into pictures, this would help us understand and appreciate even more
the Covenants and their relevance to all. Our thanks and congratulations to
everyone who took part,” said Mr Sadi.
Well done Alexia, on behalf of all the students and staff at Vaiala Beach School we are very proud of your achievement.
