The United Nations in Bangladesh in association with Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS), with support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the German government, organized a two-day long “Human Rights Short Film Festival 2018” from 8 to 9 December 2018, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Dhaka. The theme of the festival is “Finding Bangladesh and South Asia in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 70 years later”.
On 9 December 2018, H.E. Mr. Peter Fahrenholtz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bangladesh, Ms. Mia Seppo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, and Mr. Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, Filmmaker, Mr. SanjeebDrong, Representative of Bangladesh Human Rights Forum, Mr. Aung Rakhine, Filmmaker, and Rashedul Hafiz, Lifetime Member, Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS)graced the closing and the award giving ceremony of the film festival. They also joined a panel discussion on “Promoting and protecting human rights through film and other media – celebrating the 70th anniversary of the UDHR” with.
During the discussion, H.E. Mr. Peter Fahrenholtz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bangladesh termed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as “the most important document produced in the history of mankind”, which “protects the dignity of human across the world.” Ms. Mia Seppo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh added that “human rights, films, and youth together is a fantastic combination. Films and art can put spotlight to the issues that needs to be heard.” Renowned filmmakerMr. Mostafa Sarwar Farooki stressed on giving equal emphasis to protect everyone’s human rights. He said, “When it comes to protect and promote human rights we should not be selective. We can truly avoid being selective about protect human rights, we can change society as a filmmaker.”
735 short films on human rights from 82 countries have been submitted for the Human Rights Short Film Festival 2018. This film festival is a celebration of creativity and of the contributions that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has made to advancing human progress, peace and development. Films have also served to document human rights abuses, as a way of ensuring that those who have been affected are not forgotten. Films have called on all of us to take action. Human rights films are thus a product of the freedoms of thought and of expression. They are an illustration of the right to culture, and especially of cultural diversity. The films that have been screened at Human Rights Short Film Festival 2018 reflect a commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Besides short film screening, a play on human rights title “We sing equality” was performed on the festival.