Commemortion of the International Human Rights Day/ 10th December 2011

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 9, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Invitation to the media

What:Commemoration of the International Human Rights Day

When:10th December 2011

Where:African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Who:Department of Political Affairs of the African Union

Why: To celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Department of Political Affairs and the UN Office of High Commissionerfor Human Rights (OHCHR) will on 10 December 2011 commemorate the “International Human Rights Day” under the theme “Human Rights Defenders and Role of Social Media in the Protection of Human Rights”.The Human Rights Day this year will have a two-fold focus: to celebrate work of human rights defenders and inspire others to take action as well as role of social media in the protection of human rights.

Participants:Participants will include the AU Commission, Representative of the NHRC of Ethiopia, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Representative of the UN Secretary Generalandschool children amongst others.

Programme attached

PROGRAMME

09H30-10H00 -Arrival of guests and participants

-Cultural show

10H00-10H30 -Opening ceremony

-Welcome remarks by the Director of the Political Affairs Department.

-Statement by a Representative of the NHRC of Ethiopia

-Statement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

-Statement of the UN Secretary General.

-Statement of the AUC

10H30-11H00 -Cultural show

-School children performance

11H00 End of Commemoration Ceremony

Refreshment