Human Rights Day Celebration in The Hague Cathedral – December 10th, 2023

Date: December 10th, 2023 

from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Venue: 

Grote Kerk The Hague

Rond de Grote Kerk 12

Purpose and Mission:

Join us on December 10th, 2023, at The Hague Cathedral as we commemorate Human Rights Day. Our mission is to facilitate meaningful encounters between individuals who have experienced the harsh realities of war and the Dutch community. We aim to create a warm and positive atmosphere where emotions can be shared and understood, fostering connections and empathy.

Why Human Rights Day Matters:

This event, organized by Initiatives for Change in collaboration with the Grote Kerk management, serves two essential purposes:

1. Supporting Human Rights Organizations: We aim to provide support to human rights organizations based in The Hague, a city known for its commitment to peace and justice. By participating, you contribute to their vital work in safeguarding human rights.
2. Engaging the Public: Human Rights Day is an opportunity to engage the broader community in the cause of human rights. We want to demonstrate that each individual can make a significant difference in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.

Our Collaborative Efforts:

We are excited to collaborate with key organizations and passionate individuals to make this event a success:

• The Hague Peace Project: This organization brings a wealth of experience and dedication to peace-building initiatives.
• Peace and Justice Organizations in The Hague (represented by us): We are committed to promoting justice, accountability, and peace in The Hague and beyond.
• Afrasia (represented by Fatma Atas): Afrasia contributes a unique perspective on human rights issues, bridging cultures and advocating for a more inclusive world.

Together, we will co-create an event that celebrates human rights, fosters understanding, and empowers individuals and organizations to make a positive impact.

The mission of Initiatives for Change is to organize meetings, participate in international programs for positive objectives and build local networks. Locally, the IofC responds specifically to what is happening in that society.

The IofC’s goals for the program in The Hague in 2023 to celebrate 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are specific:

1. that more residents of The Hague get to know their human rights organizations and realize what the words “peace and justice” mean in their own lives
2. that more human rights organizations in The Hague talk to each other about what their work positively contributes to The Hague society and various cultures within it.
3. That human rights organizations, religious communities and faith seekers in The Hague come to know the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as inspiration and as a package of agreements for a positive and inclusive attitude to life.
4. that residents of The Hague and human rights organizations are developing some high-profile initiatives to identify injustice, in which possible alternatives to violence in conflicts become visible in those actions.
5. Activity from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Igloo “Stop the war”.

The activity is organized by TheHaguePeaceProjects

We start from the principle that you can prevent war if everyone wants it. The task is how to imagine how to stop war when it has already broken out – should you interfere? How? We use the Initiatives for Change methodology, which involves linking your feelings to your observations and to your behavior (and vice versa). You learn a lot if you test these three poles together and become aware of possible one-sidedness.

We are thinking of 3 sessions of 20 minutes at 3 standing tables for 5 guests each. We offer someone from Sudan, someone from Palestine and someone from Russia as a discussion partner, one at each table. There is also a discussion leader and dialogue material at each table. At the first table we talk about feelings. At the second table about information, analyzes and recommendations. The third table shows which actions there are and which you can join. We invite guests who are present in church; and also guests from our own network.

Join us on December 10th, 2023, at The Hague Cathedral, and let’s come together to champion human rights, build connections, and create a brighter future for all.