Amnesty International is proud to announce that the Art for Rights: South Asia Human Rights Festival will take place at the National Film Corporation in Colombo, from 5 to 9 December.
Featuring films, dancers, music performances, art installations, talks, graffiti, photography exhibitions and many other events. Art for Rights celebrates the work of South Asian artists and human rights defenders as the world marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“This is the first time Amnesty International is organizing a human rights festival in Colombo. Our aim to bring together as many activists, artists, students and youth groups to a common platform, and to initiate discussions on human rights and challenges we face in the region,” said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia Director at Amnesty International.
The festival has a special focus on short art installations, including work by renowned Bangladeshi photographer, Shahidul Alam and of Dhahau Nazeem, a photographer and activist from Maldives engagement in human rights.
Key highlights include:
- Award-winning films from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan
- Dance troupes from Sri Lanka and Nepal’s Tharu community
- Performances by Ali Aftab, one of Pakistan’s most provocative musicians whose work is richly laced with satire and political commentary
- Graffiti and murals by Afghanistan’s famous ArtLords collective
- A discussion on “Where human rights went wrong” with leading members of Sri Lankan civil society