On International Human Rights Day, OSCE supports student conference, World Press Photo exhibition in Kazakhstan
ALMATY/ASTANA, 10 December 2013 – On the occasion of International Human Rights Day being marked today, the OSCE Centre in Astana supported a conference for students on the theme of tolerance and non-discrimination as well as supporting the World Press Photo exhibition in Astana. This is the first time that the exhibition has been held in Central Asia.
At the conference organized by the Caspian Public University civil activists and some 40 law students from Almaty and Astana presented their ideas on tolerance and non-discrimination. They also discussed Kazakhstan’s international commitments, legal tools for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and issues related to terrorism, violent extremism and the roles of the state and civil sector in promoting an inclusive and secure society based on the principles of equality and justice.
“Events like this are important for educating youth on the key aspects of security, including tolerance and non-discrimination,” said Natasa Rasic, Human Dimension Officer at the Centre in Astana. “By supporting such activities, the OSCE Centre contributes to ensuring a stable, just and democratic society immune to the calls of terrorism and violent extremism and responsive to needs of vulnerable groups.”
Zholdasbek Nusenov, Rector of Caspian Public University, said: “This conference contributes to the formation of human rights institutes in Kazakhstan and promotes respect for a variety of cultural and religious traditions. This will help us be warned of potential conflicts arising from ethnic and cultural differences and solve them peacefully.”
The activity is part of the OSCE Centre's effort to promote tolerance education, non-discrimination, security, human rights and the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.
The World Press Photo exhibition that opened today in Astana with support from the OSCE Centre, the European Union Delegation and the Embassies of Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and the U.S., features some 150 winning photographs from a competition of photographers from 124 countries and depicts conditions of human rights abuse, poverty, war, violence and discrimination.
This is the first time the World Press Photo exhibition takes place in Central Asia. Today’s event was organized to mark the International Human Rights Day and the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly in 1948.
The exhibition in Astana will remain open until 26 December and will travel to Karaganda where it will be shown from 28 December 2013 to 11 January 2014.
For more information, please visit: http://www.worldpressphoto.org/2013-photo-contest