AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF JUSTICE FESTIVAL 2008 Curtain Raiser

• AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF JUSTICE FESTIVAL 2008 Curtain Raiser

• In a year when the world celebrates the 60th year of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the gala inaugural of Amnesty International India's International Week of Justice Festival Curtain Raiser got off to a colourful start on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at Siri Fort, New Delhi when over 500 people from all walks of life – students, diplomats, home makers, and professionals such as journalists, academicians, musicians, doctors, engineers, corporate employees, lawyers, social activists, creative artists and others attended the function with great enthusiasm . Shoaib Mansoor directed Khuda Kay Liye (In The Name of God) from Pakistan was unquestionably the star attraction. The Film opened to a packed house just before its commercial release in India in February.
• Playwright, activist and journalist Shahid Nadeem from Pakistan, filmmaker and film critic Aruna Vasudev, Second Counsellor (Political) from the Embassy of the Republic of France Bruce Bourden, and former Vice-Chancellor (JMI) and Vice-President, ICCR Prof. Syed Shahid Mehdi, as guests of honor fulsomely praised the greatness of UDHR as a theme and as an occasion to commemorate its 60 th anniversary. They along with Mukul Sharma, director of Amnesty International India, lit the symbolic Amnesty Candle and released the first issue of Caravan Mail, a newsletter giving an account of Amnesty's Caravan, launched in September 2007. Mukul Sharma spoke about the political role of AI India and emphasized the role of youth in activism calling the youth the 'Yes Generation'. The entire Caravan Team comprising of Gowhar Fazili, Javed I. Naqi, Mary Khuvung, Meha Dixit, Shubranshu Mishra and Sana Das were congratulated on stage by Mukul Sharma. Mahesh Kumar whose arduous 'One Man Human Rights Padyatra' from New Delhi to Lucknow concluded successfully on 4th November was also called upon on stage. Sana Das in her address spoke about Amnesty's 'Art for Activism' endeavour and invited people to approach the International Week of Justice Festival and the Curtain Raiser activities as a campaign through image and music.
• The Curtain Raiser presented a cultural extravaganza by Musical bands Advaita and Sajid Akbar. They enthralled the audience with their electrifying live performances lending their voice to create and promote human rights awareness.
• Another highlight of the Inaugural event at Siri Fort was the photo-exhibition, Voices of Dignity, curated by Parthiv Shah and Centre for Media and Alternative Communication. The photographs were contributed by Harikrishna Katragadda, Sohrab Hura, Sonia Jabbar, Suvendu Chatterjee, Swapan Nayak and Parthiv Shah. The exhibition is organised at Delhi University Conference Centre from 14-19 January 2008. The images reflecting conditions and protests in the cities of New York, Imphal, Badwani and Ahmendabad, express the aspiration for a world free from want as well as fear while drawing attention to persisting issues of displacement, discrimination, disappearance, conflict, communal violence and inhuman working conditions.
• Eminent guests who had shown their solidarity by being part of Amnesty International India's Campus Caravan were also felicitated by the Guests of Honour with a memento as a token of appreciation by AII.
• A Film Festival and Photo Exhibition traveled to various campuses in Delhi till 19 January.

• Source Event : FILM FESTIVAL : Amnesty International India presents International Week of Justice Festival 2008 at Different Venues - 13th to 19th January, 2008