The Arctic and Its Future
April 2009
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Human Rights Declaration Celebrated
Representatives of 10 major religions share their faiths' commitment to work for human rights
[Philip Rosenberg]
The 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was celebrated at the new SGI-USA Washington D.C. Culture Center on December 2, with a ceremony that included representatives from 10 faith traditions organized by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area and SGI-USA.
Participants were welcomed by the Celtic harp, then the Jewish shofar, or ram's horn. SGI Vice-General Director Bill Aiken greeted the participants, noting the relevance of this observance, coming just days after the terror attacks in Mumbai, India. He stated that the world's religions have a central role to play in providing education and sensitivity about the inherent dignity of all people.
William Davis, director of the United Nations Information Center in Washington, D.C., expressed the commitment of the UN to restore security, prosperity and human dignity in every corner of the globe. A call to action then came from Rev. John Peterson, Canon for Global Justice and Reconciliation of the National Cathedral: "We are here to remember all the people who do not have their basic human rights respected, and for them let's redouble our efforts."
The sound of the shofar welcomes participants
[Philip Rosenberg]
Representatives of 10 faith traditions then expressed what in their religious practice and beliefs impelled them to support universal human rights, and final words were given by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia and is a renowned champion of civil rights.
In Japan, the Soka Gakkai Women's Peace Committee (WPC) hosted a peace forum in Tokyo on December 20, in commemoration of the anniversary of the UDHR. WPC member Mikiko Otani, a member of the International Human Rights Law Association of Japan, delivered a lecture outlining the spirit of the UDHR and the Soka Gakkai's support for its objectives.
